chakras- Your personal power centers
Energy Centers. Vibrational Vortexes. Gateways of Mind/Body/Soul Balancing. Personal Portals of Consciousness.
Do those descriptions of chakras sound incredible, like they belong to someone really important, or like they’re almost too good to be true? The fact of the matter is that each and every one of us have them and can access them any time and/or place. The term “chakra” comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “wheel” or “disk,” and it refers to the centers of energy that spin and control our life force energy within our body. They are commonly known to be located along the spine- starting from the base of the spine and all the way up to the crown of the head. While there are seven that receive the most attention and focus, it’s important to acknowledge there are many more above and below the body that can also be worked with.
Chakras are seen as points where the physical and energetic body intersect harmoniously. When the chakras are balanced and aligned, they help maintain good physical, emotional, and spiritual health. If a chakra becomes blocked or unbalanced, it can then lead to problems mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Becoming aware of and learning how to work with your chakras can influence great change in your life. You come from Source, our Creator, and therefore have been bestowed all the greatness that is available in the universe.
Here’s an overview of the seven main chakras and their functions:
1. Root Chakra (Muladhara)
Location: Base of the spine.
Color: Red.
Element: Earth.
Associated with: Survival, stability, grounding, and physical security. It is responsible for your basic needs such as food, shelter and over all survival.
Unbalanced: When the root chakra is blocked or unbalanced, you may experience fear, anxiety, insecurity, financial instability, or physical problems such as lower back pain and fatigue.
Balanced: A balanced root chakra helps you feel grounded, safe, and secure, giving you the foundation you need to thrive in life. It encourages a zest for life and emotional stability.
2. Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
Location: Lower abdomen, just below the navel.
Color: Orange.
Element: Water.
Associated with: Creativity, pleasure, sexuality, relationships and emotional well-being.
Unbalanced: An unbalanced sacral chakra can lead to emotional instability, lack of creativity, sexual dysfunction, or feelings of guilt or shame around pleasure.
Balanced: A balanced sacral chakra enhances your emotional well-being, creativity, and ability to enjoy life. It helps you form healthy relationships and express your desires openly.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
Location: Upper abdomen, near the stomach (just above the navel).
Color: Yellow.
Element: Fire.
Associated with: Personal power, confidence, and self-esteem and willpower.
Unbalanced: Being unbalanced in the solar plexus chakra may cause low self-esteem, lack of confidence, indecisiveness, or digestive issues. You may feel powerless, out of control, or overly controlling.
Balanced: A balanced solar plexus chakra boosts your self-confidence, personal empowerment, and inner strength. It helps you take action, make decisions, and pursue your goals with determination.
4. Heart Chakra (Anahata)
Location: Center of the chest, near the heart.
Color: Green.
Element: Air.
Associated with: Love, compassion, forgiveness, and relationships. It is the bridge between the lower physical chakras and the higher spiritual chakras.
Unbalanced: Blockages in the heart chakra may manifest as an inability to give or receive love, jealousy, loneliness, grief, or holding onto resentment. Physical symptoms can include heart or lung issues.
Balanced: A balanced heart chakra allows you to experience love, compassion, and empathy. It helps cultivate healthy relationships and forgiveness.
5. Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
Location: Throat.
Color: Blue.
Element: Ether (Space).
Associated with: Verbal and non-verbal communication, self-expression, and truths.
Unbalanced: An unbalanced throat chakra can cause issues with communicating, fear of speaking, lying, or difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions. Physically, it may cause sore throats, thyroid issues, or neck pain.
Balanced: A balanced throat chakra enables you to communicate openly, express your needs and desires, and speak your truth with clarity and confidence.
6. Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
Location: Forehead, between the eyebrows.
Color: Indigo.
Element: Light.
Associated with: Intuition, insight, imagination, and spiritual wisdom. It oversees the ability to perceive beyond the physical world and connect with higher dimensions.
Unbalanced: An unbalanced third eye chakra can lead to confusion, lack of insight, poor decision-making, and being over reliant on logic while ignoring intuition. Physical symptoms may include headaches or vision problems.
Balanced: A balanced third eye chakra sharpens your intuition, deepens your spiritual connection, and opens you to inner wisdom and insight.
7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
Location: Top of the head.
Color: Violet or White.
Element: Thought or Pure Consciousness.
Associated with: Spiritual connection, enlightenment, universal consciousness, and connection to the divine.
Unbalanced: Blockages in the crown chakra may lead to feelings of being disconnected, uninterested in life, pessimism, or isolating oneself. On the physical level, it may manifest as headaches or mental health issues.
Balanced: A balanced crown chakra offers a deep sense of spiritual connection, inner peace, and unity with the universe. It helps you access higher states of consciousness and experience spiritual enlightenment.
How Chakras Help You
When your chakras are aligned and balanced, they help you maintain a balance of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of your life. Balanced chakras can support you:
Physical Health: Chakras are thought to regulate energy flow through the body, and when they are in harmony, your physical health thrives and can improve. For example, an imbalanced root chakra may lead to stress-related physical issues, while a balanced solar plexus chakra can enhance digestion.
Emotional Balance: Each chakra governs specific emotional aspects. A balanced heart chakra fosters love and compassion, while an aligned throat chakra improves communication and emotional expression.
Mental Clarity: The third eye and throat chakras influence intuition, creativity, and mental clarity. Balancing these chakras can enhance your ability to make decisions, solve problems, and perceive deeper truths.
Spiritual Growth: The higher chakras (third eye and crown) facilitate spiritual awakening, higher consciousness, and a connection to divine wisdom. Working on these chakras can deepen your spiritual practice and understanding of life's purpose.