The Sanskrit word chakra means wheel or turning. Our chakras, the rotating energy centers of our bodies, are, if unblocked, spinning constantly, sending and receiving energy. These energy centers receive energy from our surroundings and transmit energy when and where needed, acting to balance our energetic bodies when working properly. 7-- Crown 6--Third Eye 5--Throat 4--Heart 3--Solar Plexus 2--Sacral 1--Root The seven primary chakras (we actually have many 88,000 chakras in total) align with our central nervous system, correlating with the seven central nerve ganglia. Historically in Asian cultures, they are depicted by the lotus, a flower that opens its petals out like a funnel, a descriptive analogy for the chakra which collects and radiates energy as if it were a funnel. Also, the lotus lives its life on the water without ever becoming submerged in it, just as a self-realized master lives in this world without being effected by the illusion of it. Yoga, a union of physical, mental, and breathing exercises among other things, is responsible for founding the understanding of the chakra system. Yoga involves over 5000 years of developing mastery over the mind and body. Such intensive training led to the discovery of the chakras by very enlightened rishis thousands of years ago. Western science is only now just beginning to study and understand what has been ancient knowledge in India for thousands of years. The first historical record of chakra discussion was in the Upanishads of the Vedas, ancient religious texts of India. The Vedas provide the foundation for Hinduism. Chakras The seven main chakras start at the perineum or slightly below the pubic area, to the crown or slightly above the crown. Tradition supports that there are literally thousands of chakras in the body, many having only a mild, secondary effect on the physical, mental, or intuitive aspects of the person. They are spinning vortexes because of opposing currents. The upward current, the current of liberation, directs energy received from earth upward through the chakras, extending to the spiritual, heavenly energy above the physical body. The downward direction moves the energy first entering the crown and other communication-centered chakras downward toward the root and then earth, the manifestation current that helps one to manifest and complete tasks. The constant stream of two opposing energy currents is actually what sets the chakras spinning. In the Vedas, descriptions can be found for five to nine primary chakras. Many yoga practitioners thousands of years ago were drawn to utilize a model of six or seven chakras aligned centrally. When the Vedas were translated into Western languages for the first time in the 1800s, Theosophy adopted the seven chakra model, permanently influencing western understanding of the chakra system. Following is an explanation of these seven main primary chakras and an explanation of the use of hand chakras. Remember to allow yourself flexibility in experiencing more or less chakras than what is detailed here. Why work with, balance, or activate the chakras?
Working with the chakras involves reflection, meditation, exercise, and a willingness to face issues that may create blockages in many areas of your subtle energetic bodies, resulting in recurring problems in some areas of your life. Activating or stimulating your chakras can be incredibly simple, produced by simple, directed attention, although most people experience blockages in one or more areas which requires diligent effort to unblock and create balance of the energy. Stimulating the chakras purposely can be achieved by- (this is just a small sample)
Opening your mind to discovering which technique is most effective for you and resonates most with who you are will provide incredible results over time. The journey in working with chakras is endless. Ultimately, the goal is enlightenment which takes many lifetimes, so just enjoy the experience and what you discover within yourself. You may be amazed by what you feel. The Seven Primary chakras and their names Root/Base chakra - Muladhara Sacral/Spleen Chakra - Svadhisthana Solar Plexus chakra - Manipura Heart chakra - Anahata Throat chakra - Vishuddha Third-eye chakra - Ajna Crown chakra - Sahasrara *Color associations are not from ancient scripture but are a contemporary addition to chakra study. The association is logical, using the seven colors of the rainbow to correlate with the seven chakras- red, which has the lowest frequency vibration of the seven colors correlating with the low vibrations of the root chakra; violet, with its highest frequency, associated with the crown. Although it is a contemporary addition, it certainly seems to work (for myself and many, many others). The Root and Crown chakras receive and emit energy vertically, along the chakra alignment path. The five middle chakras receive and emit both to the front and behind the body, but also are an important part of the vertical currents. If a different color at any chakra level makes sense to you, allow yourself to use that in your meditations. Muladhara
Svadhisthana
Manipura
Anahata
Vishuddha
Ajna
Sahasrara
***Some western literature mentions an eighth chakra, the Etheric Chakra, which is above the crown, creating our more direct connection to the heavens. The Vedas claim anywhere from 5-9 central chakras. Hand chakras The chakras of our palms transmit energy as if conduits. In Reiki, palm chakras tremendously effect the outflow of energy from the Reiki Master, allowing pass through them but losing none of their natural energetic supply. Our fingertips also have healing chakras, but the palms seem more powerful for most people. Convention holds that your left palm (or non-dominant hand) is the receiving hand and the right (or dominant) is the sending hand. I believe both hands both send and receive, but there are tests to see which is better at receiving. Using palm chakras for healing involves many different methods. Many healing methods involve use of the healer's own Ki, Qi, prana, or life-force energy. Reiki allows energy to pass through the hand chakras without draining the healer of his/her own Ki or energy. Reiki draws from the infinite supply of Divine Energy that the body channels after attunement. Chakra quiz- With which chakra are you most strongly connected/focused? Muladhara (Root Chakra): survival issues- thoughts of security, job/finances, home, your body, need for procreation Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra): emotions and sexuality- thoughts of romantic sex, how you feel about emotional events, longing Manipura (Solar Plexus): activity - accomplishments, what you’re going to/should do Anahata (Heart Chakra): relationships- compassion for others, how are your relationships developing Vishuddha (Throat Chakra): conversation- internal chatter, ability to maintain honesty in your actions, expressing yourself, planning responses Ajna (Forehead Chakra): vision- daydreaming, visualization, imagining, remembering, intuition, sensing without visual evidence Sahasrara (Crown Chakra): spirituality- meditative connection to God/Spirit/Universe, worship, prayer, enlightenment, freedom from attachments of people, emotions, things Where are you struggling? What central belief makes you behave in a way that may display a dysfunction at a certain level? Sacred space: An important element in spiritual pursuits of many cultures Creating an altar: Creating an altar to elevate connection involves conscious action, much more important than the final physical result. Bringing meaning to your meditation, collecting the elements that resonate with you and your goal, is the point of creating your altar. Building an actual altar, elaborate or simple
In working with chakras, you can work with them one at a time or awaken each in the same meditation session. You can spend time (weeks, months, years) working with each individual chakra, recreating your altar each time to dedicate renewed energy and time to an individual chakra, with changing fabrics, candle colors, stones, herbs. Commit time for connecting to your higher self and the Divine in you. How much time do you commit to spiritual connection/communion each day. Do you live your beliefs and regularly reconnect with Spirit? How do you perceive your higher power? What has been your preferred way of connecting to your Higher Power, and is that method still effective for you? Making time throughout the day:
Love and Gratitude Morning meditation Talking to angels/ archangels for harmonization of your surroundings and assistance with your path Asking for guidance from spirit guides/ Reiki guides/ God Focusing on being present, giving yourself reminders multiple times throughout the day Stop and be aware- of your breath, the wind, the angle of the sun, the sensation in your eyes when you close them. Committing time to being in nature, the most sacred church there is Allowing for sacred creativity- making beauty with consciousness- painting, poetry, prayerful dance Even if only 5 minutes a day, make time for the sacred, to connect to your highest consciousness. Be patient for ultimate results of awakening. Fasting This is not in any way a diet for losing weight. Fasting in the spiritual sense refers to abstaining in order to clear the body which allows for ease when trying to clear the mind. This form of abstaining can be about food or other activities that occupy much mental energy and creates distraction, such as working too long on the computer, listening to the news, talking. Fasting is not to be taken lightly or without awareness of physical risks. If a person has undiagnosed or poorly monitored diabetes, the risk of insulin shock is a frightening reality. Although the intention is that of spiritual growth, one would be wise to get a physical consultation before pursuing fasting as a part of their journey. Food abstinence has been used religiously by Native Americans, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, yogis- the list goes on. Freeing the body from dietary excess allows the mind to alter, to focus without distraction; the energy moves unhindered, resulting in improved awareness or some levels of enlightenment. Vision quests of some Native American cultures involve 5 or more days of fasting, at which time a vision is hopefully received and a new stage of life can be achieved. Sweat lodges are often used at a time when fasting has been done in preparation. Because fasting promotes introspective awareness, there may be an intense impact on chakra stimulation and sensitivity. Since the meditative ability can be influenced with mindful fasting, an understanding of one's energy on many levels may become quite enlightening. This is hardly a full chakra or energy body reference. There are countless books that may help you pursue the knowledge you desire in the world of chakras and their signs of balance or dysfunction. Also, I hold a chakra class, a series, every so often. Check my calendar for more details. |
| Anodea Judith, PhD of Sacred Centers is a wonderful source and one of my references for the above information. She writes so genuinely on this topic, I recommend her books frequently to those interested in this topic. |
| I remember the first time I took an energy class and started doing exercises to open my chakras. I couldn't figure out what I was suppose to feel! Everyone else seemed to "get it" while I furrowed my brow and critiqued any little physical sensation I felt. The group then made and passed around energy balls. I felt nothing but moved my hands back and forth as everyone else did to hide my lack of enlightenment. Now, after years of energy work, I grin at my old feelings of incompetence, yet I relate to anyone who begins this path and wonders if they are ever going to "get it." The ability to work with energy requires time, practice, and definitely joy. If you punish yourself or feel it's hopeless every time you try to work with energy, you are in fact creating energy, in the form of a barrier. Manifest your desires to learn and grow but maintain that sense of joy. If you have enthusiasm when doing this kind of work, the Universe rewards you time and again with incredible gifts. I believe the best approach is the approach of openness. Be open to how the Universe will teach YOU to experience the energy, rather than limiting the experience to what you think it should be. |
| Arizona, in all her beauty |
| Exploring your Chakras |
| India scene by Barbara Lee |
| Southwest mission artist unknown |
| unfinished Buddha by Barbara Lee |
vancouver island waterfall
| santa fe adobe doorway |
| St. Andrews celtic cross headstone |
| Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia |
| Sedona |
| All photography and art work by Eric and Barbara Lee, all rights reserved |
| third eye chakra location, used with intuitive thought, clear mindedness, visualization |
| Ajna |
| Use the information you find here as a guiding tool, but not as law. I strongly recommend exploring your own experience to determine how many primary chakras you discover and what colors they resonate with if any. The ancient Indian Vedas that first detailed information on these most powerful chakras did not apply the contemporary color assignment as detailed on the picture to the left. The colors were assigned relatively recently, influenced by the New Age movement. Allow yourself to always find your own answers. Take the info you receive from me or any teacher and determine how well it meshes with your own truth. |
| Deva Premal singing Tamare Darsha from The Essence CD Deva Premal & Miten website |
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