What is a Chakra?
Everyone is referring to Chakras. What are they? By now you have heard that you have chakras and the role they play in the flow of energy in your body. It is common talk in any meditation, yoga, reiki or well-being setting. It is even becoming more mainstream conversation as our society is becoming more aware of alternative healing methods. Energy centers of our bodies have a direct impact on our vitality.
You are told that it’s important to keep your chakras open and unblocked. But what exactly are they, how do they affect us regarding or physical and emotional well being? What do we do to balance and open our chakras?
What are Chakras?
Chakra is a Sanskrit word that means ‘disk or wheel of energy’. They are your energy centers of your body. These spinning wheels of energy correspond to certain nerve bundles and major organs. When these centers are opened and balanced, they function at their best which allows you to function at your best! When they are blocked you can experience either physical and/or emotional issues at that particular chakra level.
There are 114 chakras identified in the human body, but there are 7 main chakras that we pay particular attention to. These 7 run along your spine, The first chakra is called the Root Chakra and starts at the root of your spinal cord and the 7th is located at the crown of your head, called the Crown Chakra.
You want your chakra energy centers opened, balanced and working optimally to give you the most physical, mental and emotional well-being you can have!
What are the 7 main chakras?
1. Root Chakra
Color: Red
Element associated with it: Earth
Crystals associated with it: Red jasper, onyx, hematite
The root chakra, or Muladhara, is located at the base of your spine, or pelvic floor. The Root Chakra gives you your sense of security, stability and survival. Think of this as the foundation of your body providing stability, security and sturdiness. We ground ourselves with basic needs: food, water, shelter, safety along with our emotional needs of feeling safe. If your basic needs are met, you feel grounded in a foundation that allows you stability, security and ability to be flexible to challenges or changes.
When it’s blocked: Emotionally you may experience: anxiety disorders, fears, or nightmares. Physically we see problems in the colon, the bladder, with elimination, or with lower back, leg, or feet issues.
Underactive =closed or blocked and not spinning well. Emotionally, you may feel anxious, insecure and unsafe and as a result be ungrounded.
Overactive= Energies are working too hard. Physically, you may be too attached to the physical and material world. Over indulging in food, sex, obsession with money-status are all indicators of an overactive Root Chakra.
2. Sacral Chakra
Color: Orange
Element associated with it: Water
Crystals associated with it: Carnelian, tiger’s eye, sunstone
The sacral chakra, or Svadhisthana, is located just below your belly button. This is the location that regulates your emotions as well as how you relate to others emotionally. The Sacral Chakra has been considered the most fun out of all the seven! This beautiful orange spinning wheel of energy stores your emotions, passions and desires. When you are emotionally satisfied- you feel joy, creativity, and have sexual energy.
When your sacral chakra is aligned, you’ll likely feel satisfied with yourself and others. You are exuberant, friendly and passionate. You will elicit feelings of success, wellness, abundance and joy. This heightens your creative expressions.
When it’s blocked: Emotionally you may experience lack of creativity, feeling of instability, fear of change, depression, addiction like behaviors and low libido.
Underactive= low libido, hormonal and fertility issues.
Overactive=addictions, emotional highs and lows.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra
Color: Yellow
Element associated with it: Fire
Crystals associated with it: Citrine, pyrite, amber
Location: Navel to ribcage. It aids in metabolic, digestive, and stomach.
What it is: With its Sanskrit name, Manipura, meaning “lustrous gem,” the third chakra is said to be your source of individual power, ruling over self-esteem and helping you feel in control of your life . This is the Action and Balance chakra. It helps you focus on your individual willpower, personal power and commitment.
When it’s blocked: Emotionally you might experience low self-esteem, difficulty making a decision, procrastination, anger or control issues. You may display apathy-where people may take advantage of you because of your lack of motivation or interest in things around you.
Physically this could present in the form of a stomach ache or any other digestive issue.
Underactive= self-doubt, lack of motivation to be true to ourselves.
Overactive= big ego, power hungry, manic behavior, hyperactive.
4. Heart Chakra (Anahata)
Color: Green and pink
Element associated with it: Air
Crystals associated with it: Rose quartz, jade, malachite
Location: The center of the chest, encapsulating the heart, the thymus gland (which plays a vital role in your endocrine and lymphatic system), the lungs, and the breasts.
What it is: As the central chakra, the fourth chakra is where the physical and spirit are said to meet. This chakra is all about Love. Love governs spiritual awareness, giving and receiving, and forgiveness. When your heart chakra is flowing as it should you have balance, love and compassion and you can also give and receive easily. Love energy vibrations are so high that they can be felt from across a room and can also bring others vibrations higher too.
When it’s blocked: Emotionally you may feel: grief, anger, jealousy, fear of betrayal, and hatred toward yourself and others.
Underactive= unforgiveness of the past, unable to give or receive love.
Overactive=Is there anything wrong with being “Too Loving?” Actually, it
could be masking co-dependency. It can show up emotionally as being needy with a lack of boundaries, jealous or possessive.
5. Throat chakra (Vishudda)
Color: Blue
Element associated with it: Ether
Crystals associated with it: Lapis lazuli, aquamarine, kyanite
Location: The name says it all—anatomically, the throat chakra is associated with the thyroid, parathyroid, jaw, neck, mouth, tongue, and larynx.
Speak your Truth. Sing your Song!
What it is: Do you ever struggle speaking your truth? We want you to be able to speak your truth, sing your song with clarity and kindness. Get what you want without being a bully. Your fifth chakra encourages you to communicate your inner truths. We have 3 chakras- throat, third eye and crown, from throat to top of head that are purely spiritual chakras in nature. The 4 below manifest in more physical ways. When this chakra is fully functioning you will find yourself being a good listener and also expressing your ideas clearly. A great ying and ylang, and such a great feeling!
When it’s blocked: It can manifest as not paying attention or focusing, and fear of judgment. You become disappointed in yourself for not finding a way to speak up. You can easily be overlooked and not heard.
Physically a blocked throat chakra can be experienced as a sore throat, thyroid issues, neck and shoulder pain, and headaches.
Underactive: find it hard to express yourself. You hold back what you want to say and in doing so others don’t know how you truly feel. Disappointment in yourself for not speaking your truth. Fear of judgement or confrontation.
Overactive= talking too much, dominating conversations, appearing not to listen to others.
6. Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
Color: Indigo
Element associated with it: Light
Crystals associated with it: Amethyst, purple fluorite, labradorite
Location: Physically located between and above the eyebrows, the third eye is said to govern the pituitary gland, eyes, head, and lower part of the brain.
What it is: The third-eye chakra not only governs your intuition and imagination, it gives you the ability to recognize your intuition and use it! It serves as the bridge between you and your physical world and the spiritual world. It is viewed as a strong gut instinct that helps you see things clearly and cut through illusions or drama.
When it’s blocked: Emotionally you may have a hard time trusting your intuition, hearing your inner voice, the recall of facts, or even learning new skills. You may feel depressed, have anxiety or be judgemental. It can also indicate that your lower chakras are out of balance as well. This may be seen as acting more superior, indifferent, and withdrawn.
Physically it can cause headaches, dizziness or other brain-health issues.
Underactive= overthink things which leave you feeling exhausted and disconnected from your intuition.
Overactive= overactive imagination, overactive clairvoyant skills that can concern you.
7. Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
Color: Violet
Element: Thought
Crystals associated with it: Selenite, clear quartz, lepidolite
Location: The crown of the head
What it is: Sahasrara, or the “thousand petal lotus” chakra represents your spiritual connection. The crown chakra houses the enlightenment and spiritual connection to our higher selves and others. This is where you can attain pure conscious awareness and alignment with the divine. All One, All Expansive, United in One Universe. You are a small part of the expansive, united, all one Universe. Your part, although small-yields great energy, is needed, exciting and makes things happen.
When it’s blocked: Emotionally you may feel drained of energy, numb to your surroundings, purposeless and spiritually disconnected. Normally, you may feel just a little disconnected-not your normal self, not having a higher-state awareness. Physically you may feel tension headaches, exhaustion, poor coordination.
Underactive= confusion, lack of inspiration, oversleeping
Overactive: cynicism, apathy, self-destructive
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