The concept of chakras is traced back to ancient Indian spiritual traditions, which evoke energy centres in the human body. There are said to be seven chakras that influence our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. They target every area of our lives; being aware of them can lock or enable personal development and self-awareness. This article explains the true meaning of the seven chakras, their elements, colours and their effects on our lives.
The Root Chakra, also called Muladhara, sits at the base of the spine. It is associated with the earth element and is red in colour. This chakra forms the foundation of our being and resonates with the qualities of grounding, stability and security. A grounding, infused quality connects us to the world and to the earth in such a way that we feel safe and physically connected to the world. When the root chakra is balanced, we feel safe, confident and grounded in reality. This helps us navigate basic survival instincts, overcome ignorance and imbalance, and lay a solid foundation for our lives.
Location: Lower abdomen, about two inches below the navel
Colour: Orange. This is the chakra of creativity, pleasure, emotion, emotional expression – the house of our relationships, our sexual energy and our ability to experience joy and abundance. A balanced sacral chakra allows us to accept feelings, express our creativity, and make contact with the appropriate, satisfying interests of others; it also increases our sense of well-being and enjoyment of life.
The Manipura Chakra, also called the Solar Plexus Chakra, lies in the upper abdomen above the navel. It indicates fire as an element and the colour of this chakra is yellow. This chakra is said to bring energy to make one powerful and proud of oneself. It brings confidence. It can control the extent to which a person can assert themselves, make decisions or manage life. In balance, the Solar Plexus chakra allows us to live with purpose and motivation. It transforms our bodies with energy and increases our overall vitality. This energy centre is at the core of our sense of self and empowering our confidence to navigate the world.
It is located in the very centre of the chest; this chakra is associated with the element of air and the colour green. This chakra serves the heart of love, compassion and emotional balance. It connects us to others and to ourselves, cultivating unconditional love, forgiveness and empathy. When the heart chakra is balanced, a person's relationships are also balanced - emotional healing and harmony in communication with others. It encourages us to embrace love as a guiding principle that allows us to walk through life with an open heart.
The Vishuddha or throat chakra is located in the neck area and resonates with the element Space and the colour blue. This chakra governs our power of communication in all senses and our sense of truth. It helps a person to verbally and non-verbally express his goal or his desire with very clear articulation. When the throat chakra is balanced, we can clearly express our needs, desires and ideas. It encourages one to really listen and speak their truth, to make meaningful connections and create space for authentic self-expression
The third eye chakra is located in the centre of the forehead, just above the space between the eyebrows. It is related to the element of Light and the colour indigo. It is the chakra that is the centre of insight, intuition and inner wisdom; it controls the ability through which we can see beyond the physical world and enter deeper levels of consciousness. A balanced third eye chakra enhances our intuition, imagination and spiritual awareness. It allows us to connect with our inner wisdom, perceive subtle energies and navigate life with greater clarity and insight.
The crown chakra or Sahasrara is located at the top of the head and is associated with the element of Thinking (Consciousness) and the colour purple or white. This is the spiritual chakra and relates to spiritual connection and enlightenment – feeling one with the universe. It has a lot to do with our divinity and universal consciousness. A person with a balanced crown chakra will experience inner peace, spiritual understanding and an intense sense of bliss. It allows a person to experience a deep connection with the world around them.
It's just understanding – the seven chakras; balance is key. Chakras are tools for balancing and realigning through meditation, yoga, energy healing and a mix of other techniques such as working with crystals and essential oils. A balanced chakra system promotes physical, mental and spiritual health and harmony – giving us a balanced and fulfilling life to live by.
Identifying and removing blockages from the chakras are ways to work on healing and transformation. Experiences and contexts in each individual's life can lead to disruption of any of the chakras, or efforts to hold back emotions can lead to their blocking. Awareness and mindfulness can thus reverse the imbalance of these energy centres and clear the way for greater well-being, happiness and spiritual growth.
The crown chakra or Sahasrara is located at the top of the head and is associated with the element of Thinking (Consciousness) and the colour purple or white. This is the spiritual chakra and relates to spiritual connection and enlightenment – feeling one with the universe. It has a lot to do with our divinity and universal consciousness. A person with a balanced crown chakra will experience inner peace, spiritual understanding and an intense sense of bliss. It allows a person to experience a deep connection with the world around them.
Not only do Indian spiritual traditions establish the whole concept of chakras, but many cultures and spiritual practices consider similar energy centres and the role they play in our well-being. In fact, these windows into the various traditions will be the greatest help for a better understanding of the chakras and for a more comprehensive insight into one's spiritual practice.
The seven chakras represent a very elegant model by which we can understand our well-being – both physical and emotional – in addition to helping us in our spiritual aspect. Harmonization, greater well-being and spiritual growth can be accomplished by exploring and balancing the energy centres that operate through the chakras. Whether you're new to the concept of chakras or someone with experience looking to deepen your practice, an explanation of these energy centres will open the door to a more balanced and fulfilling life. Follow the path of healing your chakras and experience its profound impact on well-being in your life.
THE SEVEN CHAKRA
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