Chakras

Understanding Your Energy

Your energy is said to manifest within certain points of your body. When one of these 'chakras' is unbalanced it's like we feel it in those parts. One way we can hope to achieve a positive and balanced focus is to be aware of these areas and what they mean.

The idea of the chakra is deep rooted within Hindu and Buddhist philosophy. It's roots remain basically the same in New Age and other current spiritual resources.

To start, let's look over the chakras starting from bottom to top and find out what they mean.

Root Chakra or Muladhara is portrayed by a four-petaled lotus flower and is red. It's location is at the base of the spine and governs survival issues such as food, money, and independence, instinct, security, survival and also to basic human potentiality. Physically governs sexuality, mentally it governs stability, emotionally it governs sensuality, and spiritually it governs a sense of security.

The Sacrel Chakra or Swadhisthana is a white lotus with a crescent moon surrounded by 6 orange petals. The location is right below the belly button and governs our connection to others and accept them, relationships, violence, addictions, basic emotional needs, and pleasure. Physically, it governs reproduction, mentally it governs creativity, emotionally it governs joy, and spiritually it governs enthusiasm.

The Solar Plexus Chakra or Manipura is a triangle pointed downward with 10 petals and is yellow. It's located in the upper abdomen. It basically runs our ability to be confident and in control of our lives, issues of personal power, fear, anxiety, opinion-formation, introversion, and transition from simple or base emotions to complex. Physically, it governs digestion, mentally it governs personal power, emotionally it governs expansiveness, and spiritually, all matters of growth.

The Heart Chakra or Anahata is a green circular flower with 12 petals and located in the chest. It governs the ability to love, complex emotions, compassion, tenderness, unconditional love, equilibrium, rejection and well-being. Physically it governs circulation, emotionally it governs unconditional love for the self and others, mentally it governs passion, and spiritually it governs devotion.

The Throat Chakra or Vishuddha is a silver crescent in a white circle surrounded by 16 blue petals. It's location is the throat and governs the ability to communicate. Physically, it governs communication, emotionally it governs independence, mentally it governs fluent thought, and spiritually, it governs a sense of security. In Tibetan Buddhism the symbol differs and plays an important part in lucid dreaming.

The Third Eye Chakra/Brow Chakra or Ajna is a lotus with two petals and violet or dark blue. It is located between the eyes on the forehead. This chakra governs are perception and our focus on the bigger picture.  This is balancing the higher and lower selves and trusting inner guidance. It's inner aspect relates to the access of intuition. Mentally, it deals with visual consciousness. Emotionally, this chakra deals with clarity on an intuitive level. Also linked to the pineal gland which can cause envisioning.

The Crown Chakra or Sahasrara is a thousand petaled lotus that is usually white or a light purple/fuchsia located at or above the crown of the head. This chakra represents consciousness and ability to connect spiritually. Connection to the divine.

The chart to the right is pretty basic: includes simplified information from the above explanations and includes some other information I didn't include. If you need a quick reference guide, this chart is good for that. Notice this chart has not only the governed attributes, but some of the basic attributes of an imbalanced chakra area. Some good healing tips for all kinds of people and what they prefer.

Simple Chakra Meditation

When one meditates on the chakra paths they are either trying to "wake up" that chakra or even heal it. You basically are trying to energize the area. Envision it when doing any chakra exercise, including a physical meditation, like yoga. Use the knowledge of the chakras to your advantage. You'll usually feel better then a stress meditation if there are specific problems you can't shake. 

If you are doing a full chakra awakening, be aware of each affirmation given to the specific chakra as you go through the meditative state. In order from Root to Crown chakras: I am, I feel, I do, I love, I speak, I see, I understand. This could be practical to positivity training as well as a daily affirmation before heading out for the day each morning. 

There are many more sources online about chakra meditation for more advanced reasons then the ones I propose to my readers, and by all means, if you want to study more intensively into chakras, please study it! My blog serves as simple ideas and teachings, usually covering base ideas for everyone- but I HIGHLY recommend going beyond anything here if you feel you need to!

Affirmations

The following are affirmations for each chakra, starting with the Root to the Crown. Whether you need some inspiration for every chakra with a meditation or you have a problem with a specific one and need to reflect on the message, these are great and well written.

*Disclaimer: I do not own the pictures on this page. I found them on Pinterest and most linked back to Tumbler or Google search. If any of these are your original pictures I will most indeed link and credit you for the use of these. Thank you!