The 7 Chakra Energy System.

CHAKRAS

Let's talk about Chakras. This is an energy healing system that has been around for a very, very long time. The first text to mention chakra's date back approximately 2700 years.. The earliest roots to the Chakras originates in the Hindu Vedic texts, especially references to prana (life force), nadi (energy channels), and bindu (point of consciousness).

Since then its gone through several transitions.

In the early '70s, Christopher Hills published a book, ' Nuclear Evolution.' Most significantly, Hills was responsible for the chakra's relationship to the color spectrum. They are also known as rainbow Chakras. Until this time, no link existed between the two. Hills also related the Chakras to personality types. His correlation has now become mainstream in New Age and yogic circles. -(Tantric Academy https://tantricacademy.com/history-of-the-chakras/)

So when I speak of Chakras, the Western Caucasion philosophy is what I will be speaking on, because it is what I know. However, it is very important to understand that this is essentially a spinoff from the original version of Chakras that is much more detailed, and really doesn't sound or even look anything like the western world version.

In general, as a energy healer, I find that the western world version of Chakras has become a fairly easy system for beginners to learn and understand the energy system of the mind, body and spirit.

The word Chakra loosely translates to wheel or circle. However, in reality a Chakra is more like vortices of energy. And in this version there are seven identified energy centers within the body. However, within the original chakra system, there are many more-up to 114. For the rest of this article, I will focus on the westernized version of the Chakra system. But it's very important to point out the history of systems, and lineage, that are taken from, and changed and molded to new times, different people and different cultures.

And this is not meant to be an exhaustive article on Chakras, but more of a starting point. 

So as I said, there are seven Chakra points and they start at tip of your tailbone and move up from there. Each chakra is correlated to body parts, organs, certain emotions, and mind processes. Here's a brief description of each of them:

The first Chakra is at the tip of the tailbone and is called the Root Chakra. It is it is the chakra that connects you to the Earth and helps you to be grounded. To be grounded means to become solidly real in this third dimension- the physical realm, particularly in the body and in connection with the Earth. The energy of this Chakra has to do with survival, physical identity, self preservation, the legs, feets, bones, and large intestines. It is connected to the color red. When there is an imbalance of the energy, you might find yourself overeating, especially craving unhealthy foods, along with paranoia, nervousness, and dominance behavior. You might experience constipation, lower back issues, sciatica, issues with your feet, knees, groin, hips, and ankles. When it is considered balanced, you will feel abundant in your health and energy. You will feel grounded and centered, safe and secure. To encourage balance of this chakra, it is recommended that you work with the color red, you spend time in nature specifically with your bare feet on the ground, hug a tree, stay very physically present in your body. Move it by walking, dancing, or any movement that feels good. Also root vegetables and heavy foods can help you get grounded into this chakra. As well as using the affirmation, I have.

The second Chakra is called Sacral Chakra and is located at the sacrum, which is the low back. It is associated with the element of water. It is as well as desire, sexuality, and also guilt. The body parts is associated with the sacral Chakra are the womb, genitals, kidney, bladder, and low back. It's color is orange. When it is overactive, and or out of balance, you may experience disorders of reproductive organs, fertility, the gallbladder, menstrual difficulties, and sexual dysfunction. When the second chakra is balanced, you will feel healthy and have creative expression. You'll have balanced hormones, the ability to experience pleasure, and be in your generous nature of giving and self-care. To work with this sacral Chakra it is a good idea to use your creativity as much as possible. You can add the color orange into your life by eating orange foods, wearing orange. And remember to experience pleasure, drinking a lot of liquids, and using the affirmation I feel.

The third Chakra is called the Solar Plexus Chakra. It is located mid body, which is right around your belly button or middle of your abdomen and  is associated with the element of fire. It is related to power, ego, identity, and shame. It deals with the organs: the pancreas, adrenals, digestive system, liver, gallbladder. It’s color is yellow. When you are imbalanced, you may have a desire to overeat and have digestive disorders, you may be overly aggressive or respond in a bossy or power-hungry or competitive way. You may also experience food allergies, fatigue, and depression. When you are balanced, you may experience feeling very responsible, reliable, and have a healthy self-esteem. As well as a faithfulness about a sense of humor and ability to make decisions and meet challenges. To tap into the solar plexus chakra, you can work with fire, such as sitting around a bonfire, gazing at a candle flame. Utilizing the color,yellow more in your life. Crystals such as Amber and citrine work well with this chakra. And using the affirmation I do.

The fourth Chakra is called the heart Chakra. It's Location is the center of your chest- your heart space. It is associated with air, love, peace, and self acceptance, as well as grief. It's associated with the lungs heart, circulatory system, arms, and hands. It's color is green. When it is overactive or imbalanced, you might experience disorders of the heart and lungs, the breast, or the arms. You might be overly empathetic, jealous, and have poor boundaries and a tendency to stay in abusive relationships. When you are feeling balanced in your heart space, you will feel compassionate, understanding, loving of self and others, you'll have inner peace and a strong immune system. The heart chakra likes vegetables, the color lavender, being and feeling Love; so hugging peopleand having compassionate connection and community. Using green stones, and being in meditation are wonderful for the heart Chakra. And using the affirmation: I love.

The fifth Chakra is called the throat Chakra and is located at your throat. It has to do with sound and vibration and communication. It's associated with the thyroid, the throat, the ears, mouth, shoulders and neck. It's color is turquoise. When you are out of alignment in your throat chakra you might have problems with their nasal area, your teeth and gums and irritated sinuses or jaw, pain; or potentially disorders of the throat. You might find yourself excessively talking, the inability to listen, and you might find yourself gossiping. However, when you are in a balanced state with your throat chakra. You will be a good listener, and communicate easily and clearly and live creativly. You will be able to express yourself freely and practice creativity through writing, poetry, singing. You can use the color blue, and you can practice sound healing through things online, such as music, or in person with sound healers. And using the affirmation: I speak. 

The sixth Chakra is called third eye Chakra. It is located at your brow. It is connected to light and being luminescent. It's also deeply connected to your intuition and your imagination. It works in tandem with the pineal gland. It affects your eyes, the base of your skull and your brows. And it's color indigo. When you are out of balance you might experience spiritual psychosis. Such as hallucinations, and you might have difficulty concentrating and have a lot of nightmares. As well as experience headaches, seizures, and eye problems. When you are in alignment and balanced with your third eye Chakra, you will feel very intuitive, and optimistic and imaginative. You will have a calm mind. To become aware of your third eye chakra, I recommend using the color, indigo, use the herb mugwort as an incense or drink it as a tea. Chant the sound OM- (AU-mmmm). And use the affirmation: I see.

The 7th Chakra is called the Crown Chakra and is located at the very top of your head. It is related to thoughts, consciousness and understanding. But also very much in connection to the spirit realm. It's related to your pituitary gland and your cerebral cortex. And it's color is violet. When it is overactive or imbalanced, you may find that you are experiencing spiritual addiction, or overly concerned with humanity, as well as confusion and disassociated from the body. You might experience autoimmune disorders, migraines, and brain tumors as well as cognitive delusions. When it is balanced you will experience love and acceptance of the divine. You'll be very intelligent and thoughtfully aware. You will be open minded and have ability to receive and recognize spiritual guidance.  This chakra is activated by fasting, (if that is something that works for you). This is a deeply divinely connected chakra and one that takes you more out of body and into the ethereal realm. So meditation is extremely helpful, scalp massage, and asking that light (either a purple or a white light) come in through the top of your head through the crown chakra, and fill your body. And using the affirmation, I know.

I want to address a couple of buzz phrases I hear a lot about chakras.

First: the idea that because "Chakra" translates to "wheel" in the West, it must spin, in one exact direction, at one exact speed. After 24 years as an energy healer, I just haven't found that to be true. I relate Chakras more to vortices of energy than spinning wheels, and there's no precise speed I could ever say to a client, "your chakra spins at X." What I do see is energy centers that are slow, sluggish, or resistant to flow.

Which brings me to the second phrase: "blocked Chakras." I don't buy it. Energy is always in motion. That's a scientific fact, you cannot block it. What you can have is resistance in your energy centers, from trauma, survival mode, chronic stress, poor sleep, poor nutrition, and poor health overall. That resistance shows up as imbalance or underactivity. But no, a Chakra can't be blocked. 

The other thing that people often come into my healing sanctuary and ask me is if I can balance their Chakras. The short answer is yes, but in reality, I don't specifically work with the chakra energy centers, and I don't have a method of which I am intentionally balancing your Chakras.

All energy work should balance you out, whether they're coming from a perspective of chakras, or emotional imbalance, physical imbalance. It all works together. So I don't personally outright offer a chakra balancing session. Because all of my sessions are balancing when I do my energy work, your chakras are being filled with high (fast) vibrational frequency of healing, and it will go where it needs to go, and it will do what it needs to do.

So for me, the chakra system is one that I use as an educational tool and an introduction to energy. And it is one of the systems I found that really closely relates to what I have come to know is true about the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the human experience.

However, I do currently have a super fun Chakra series happening right now!

If reading through these seven energy centers stirred something in you, I'd love to have you come feel it in your body, and then create with it. Starting Sunday, Sept. 13, Amanda Kennedy (of Flourish Art Studio and classroom) and I are running Art Flow, which is currently a 7-week series where we move through the chakras one at a time, learning about them in depth, and explore them through light movement and creativity, using different art mediums. You can register HERE