The 7 Chakras All Entries
What are Chakras?
Chakra is a Sanskrit word literally meaning wheel or circle, and
it originates from the ancient Indian yoga system and the philosophy of Tantra.
Chakras can be best described as the vortexes of energy located vertically
along the spine, and they correspond to the spinal plexuses in the
physical body. In your physical body, there are seven major chakras. Each
chakra appears like a wheel of light that spins in a clockwise
direction at a different speed. What is the spiritual importance of chakras? All
of your seven chakras shape your entire spiritual anatomy. Chakras are
important elements on your spiritual path, and understanding them will allow
you to integrate your mind, body, and spirit in a better way. Chakras can be
viewed as the seven doors to higher consciousness that will allow you
to ascend and better understand your full potential. Imagine your body as
a vehicle of consciousness. The chakras can be viewed as the wheels of
life that can move your vehicle in the direction of enlightenment. Chakras
are also known as lotuses, and each chakra symbol is portrayed
with a different number of petals, which are the expression of their
vibratory frequency:
- Root Chakra has 4 petals
- Sacral Chakra has 6 petals
- Solar Plexus Chakra has 10 petals
- Heart Chakra has 12 petals
- Throat Chakra has 16 petals
- Third Eye Chakra has 2 petals
- Crown Chakra has 1,000 petals
Lotus is a sacred Indian flower, which can only grow in the
mud and whose petals open one by one. Our chakras behave just like petals of
lotus flowers: they can be opened or closed depending on the state of
consciousness.
· Chakra 1 - Root Chakra | Muladhara -
Located at the base of the spine. It is associated with energy, survival, stability,
comfort and safety. Its element is earth.
· Chakra 2 - Sacral Chakra | Svadhishthana -
Located in the lower abdomen. It is associated with sensuality, sexuality,
pleasure, sociability and emotions. Its element is water.
· Chakra 3 - Solar Plexus Chakra | Manipura - Located in the navel area. It is associated with strength, personality, power, determination and self-esteem. Its element is fire.
· Chakra 4 - Heart Chakra | Anahata - Located in the middle of the chest, over the sternum. It is associated with love, acceptance, compassion and sincerity. Its element is air.
· Chakra 5 - Throat Chakra | Vishuddha -
Located in the throat area. It is associated with communication,
expression, creativity and inspiration. Its element is ether / sound.
· Chakra 6 - Third Eye Chakra | Ajna -
Located in the middle of the forehead. It is associated with intuition,
lucidity, meditation and trust. Its element is light.
· Chakra 7 - Crown Chakra | Sahasrara - Located
at the top of the head. It is associated with knowledge, consciousness,
fulfilment and spirituality. Its element is thought.
Do you want to know the best part? The colors of the 7
chakras correspond to the seven colors of the rainbow, and they are
called the spectrum of white light. Colors of the rainbow always appear in
a specific order (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet) when
the water droplets disperse sunlight.
Crown
Chakra
The crown
chakra, or sahasrāra chakra in Sanskrit, is known as “the
bridge to the cosmos.” It is the most spiritual in nature of all seven chakras.
Located above the crown of the head, it acts as the individual’s center of
spirit, enlightenment, wisdom, universal consciousness, and connection to
higher guidance. In a sense, the crown chakra is our highest potential. It
governs interaction & communication with the universe, one’s senses of
inspiration & devotion, union with the higher self & the divine, and
deeper understanding; simultaneously, it is responsible for a healthy spiritual
life. Some people like to think of the crown chakra as a kind of umbilical cord
to the divine, whereby we as human beings are connected to the oneness of all
things. Because of this direct connection, it is important that we do not
conceptualize ourselves as being completely separated from the
divine; instead, that greater universal force is merely a larger expansion of
the same energy which makes us up, too. The crown chakra allows for the
experiences of unity and universal connectedness, as well as the integration of
the whole. It has a masculine energy and is represented by the color
violet, or sometimes white, while its symbol is a circle with one thousand petals.
Elementally, it is associated with thought and silence, and its mantra is, “I
know.” Use these crystals to activate your Crown Chakra: Clear Quartz, Moonstone, Amethyst, Labradorite, Howlite, Ametrine & Selenite.
Third
Eye Chakra
The third eye
chakra, or ajna chakra in Sanskrit, is known as “the seat of
intuition.” Translations of the Sanskrit name include, “perceive,” “beyond
wisdom,” and “command.” Located in the center of the forehead, it acts as the
individual’s center of wisdom, conscience, and higher consciousness. The third eye
allows for clear thought, spiritual contemplation, and self-reflection. It is
the highest chakra in the physical body, allowing it to provide visionary
perspective. The third eye also helps to determine one’s reality and beliefs
based on what one chooses to see in the world. The third eye chakra has a
feminine energy. It is symbolized by the color indigo and an upside-down
triangle and lotus flower. Elementally, it is associated with light, although
some argue that the third eye is associated not with any specific element, but
with everythingness. Its mantra is, “I see.” Use these crystals to
activate your Third Eye Chakra: Sodalite, Lapis Lazuli, Azurite, Sapphire, Amethyst, Angelite, Celestite, Kyanite & Calcite.
Throat
Chakra
The throat
chakra, or vishuddha chakra in Sanskrit, is located at the
center of the neck. It acts as the individual’s force of expression and
individual truth, both internally and externally. A balanced throat chakra
helps to set us free from the fear of judgement or need for approval from
others. This chakra helps us to embrace our originality and unique individual
experiences in the world. It is also associated with purity, thus connecting it
to the concept of truth. The throat chakra is responsible for communication,
the expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas, a healthy internal dialogue,
and striking a balance between speaking and listening, as well as the seeking
and sharing of truth, social skills, and personal integrity and honor. It also
works closely with the sacral chakra:
while the sacral chakra governs creativity, it is the throat chakra that allows
the individual to express those creative ideas, rather than
stifling them for fear of others’ opinions. The throat chakra has a masculine
energy and is symbolized by a blue 16-petaled flower. Elementally, it is
associated with sound, and its mantra is, “I speak.” Use these crystals to
activate your Throat Chakra: Turquoise, Blue Lace Agate, Aquamarine, Kyanite, Aqua Aura, Blue Apatite, Larimar, & Chryscolla.
Heart
Chakra
The heart
chakra, or anahata chakra in Sanskrit, is located at the
center of the spine at heart level. Anahata roughly translates
to, “unhurt.” Accordingly, the heart chakra acts as the individual’s center of
compassion, empathy, love, and forgiveness. This chakra governs one’s senses of
trust, fearlessness, peace, generosity, gratitude, and connectedness, as well
as change and transformation, healthy boundaries, depth in relationships with
others, emotional control, and love for oneself. The heart chakra has a
feminine energy and is symbolized by a green six-pointed star within a
12-petaled flower. Elementally, the heart chakra is associated with air, and
its mantra is, “I love.” The heart chakra is special because it is the fourth
of the seven chakras, making it the exact halfway point of the system and the
unifier of the physical and spiritual chakras. By connecting the lower three
chakras — the root, sacral, and solar plexus — with the upper three chakras — the
throat, third eye, and crown — the heart chakra acts as the bridge between the
earth and spirit. Use these crystals to activate your Heart Chakra: Rose Quartz, Rhodonite, Green Agate, Amazonite, Green Opal, Jade, Peridot, Aventurine & Chrysoprase.
Solar
Plexus Chakra
The solar
plexus chakra, or Manipura in Sanskrit, translates to, “city
of jewels.” Located in the upper belly at the diaphragm, it acts as the center
of personal power. This chakra governs personality, ego, and identity, as well
as personal freedom, choice, and authenticity. The solar plexus chakra also has
much to do with motivation, willpower, and purpose, which stem from one’s sense
of personal efficacy. Self-confidence and view of the self-connect to the solar
plexus chakra, as well. Furthermore, this chakra governs the digestive system
and its respective organs; as a result, it has jurisdiction over both the gut’s
emotional brain and stored emotions. The solar plexus chakra has a masculine
energy and is symbolized by the color yellow (and/or gold) and by a
downward-pointing triangle within a ten-petaled flower. Elementally, the solar
plexus chakra is associated with fire (as well as the sun) and its mantra is,
“I can.” (Accordingly, manifestation work connects to this chakra
specifically.) Use these crystals to activate your Solar Plexus Chakra: Citrine, Topaz, Fire Opal, Honey Amber, Tiger's Eye, Pyrite, Sunstone, Aragonite & Golden Labradorite.
Sacral
Chakra
The sacral chakra, or swadisthana chakra in Sanskrit, has received the nicknames, “the social chakra,” and “the creation chakra.” Located in the center of the lower belly or, as some believe, in the genital area, it acts as the individual’s center of pleasure and passion — both sensually and creatively. This chakra governs reproductive systems and processes, sexuality, relationships, emotions, and sense of adventure. In fact, at its most broad, the sacral chakra simply governs passion and pleasure, phenomena which manifest themselves in our lives via two avenues. On one side is creativity and zeal for life — think of finding enjoyment by creating something like a piece of art, a recipe, or even a business, as well as just having fun in life. On the other side is sensuality, in the sense of embracing one’s own natural human sexuality. The sacral chakra has a feminine energy and is symbolized by a flower and crescent moon. Elementally, the sacral chakra is associated with water, and its mantra is, “I feel.” Use these crystals to activate your Sacral Chakra: Carnelian, Red Tiger's Eye, Stilbite, Citrine, Golden Topaz, Orange Calcite & Cognac Amber.
Root
Chakra
The root
chakra, or mūlādhāra chakra in Sanskrit, is known as “the root
of all things.” Located at the base of the spine at about tailbone-level, it
acts as the individual’s center of emotional and spiritual balance, as well as
instinctual consciousness. At its most basic level, the root chakra is
concerned with needs. It governs one’s senses of stability,
safety, strength, and commitment and is responsible for self-preservation and
feeling grounded. While the root chakra is evolutionarily tied to those basic
instincts that help us survive, modern day has connected this
chakra more to the business of helping us thrive. Moving beyond
just food, water, and shelter, the domain of the root chakra has come to
include concepts like health, wealth, and community. Day-to-day feelings
of trust, belonging, and being present are governed by the root chakra. The
root chakra is especially important to the chakra energy system because a lack
of “roots” can compromise the integrity of all the other chakras, directly
affecting the wellbeing of the entire body, mind, and spirit. Only when we feel
that our most essential needs are met can we focus on growing. The root chakra
is also believed to be connected with Kundalini, or cosmic energy force which
can be awakened and moved up the spine through the other chakras. Within
the chakra system, the root chakra has a masculine energy and is symbolized by
a red lotus with four petals. Elementally, it is associated with the earth, and
its mantra is, “I have.” Use these crystals to activate your Root Chakra: Red Coral, Red Jasper, Black Obsidian, Bloodstone, Tourmaline, Red Carnelian, Garnet & Black Onyx.