I’ve been studying and working with my chakras (mostly in morning meditation) for years now. Long enough to be aware of them and to be able to recognize which ones are working just fine and which ones are out of kilter. These energy centers in our body need to be balanced in order to have the highest level of physical health as well as emotional stability and Spiritual connection.
First to define a chakra- A chakra is an energy center. In a perfectly healthy person, the 7 main chakras work in unison to create life force energy. The body, mind, and spirit benefit from balanced chakras. In addition, each chakra has its own symbol, color, and meaning.
The term ‘Chakra’ is also Sanskrit for ‘wheel’. This refers to the spinning, spherical energy center that makes up a chakra.
Here’s a list of your 7 chakras and their numbers in order:
1. The Root Chakra
2. The Sacral Chakra
3. The Solar Plexus Chakra
4. The Heart Chakra
5. The Throat Chakra
6. The Third Eye Chakra
7. The Crown Chakra
You will notice as we go through the chakras that each one has it’s own color and it’s own vibration. The further we go up the chakras, the higher the vibrational frequency.
You may also notice that the colors of the chakras follow those of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet).
Colors also carry their own vibrational frequencies and as we move up through the chakras the colors move up the vibrational scale just like music notes. So, the higher the chakra, the higher the vibrational frequency.
The Root Chakra
The root chakra is located at the base of the spine.
Its color is red and it signifies the connection to all of your physical, bodily energy with the Earth itself. In other words, this chakra ‘grounds’ you.
Your Root Chakra is also linked to everything you need to survive. This includes the act of breathing, eating, sleeping, and experiencing physical security.
When your 1st chakra is balanced, you’ll feel a deep sense of peace. You’ll feel safe in the knowledge that all of your core needs are met. Because of this, all total body healing starts here.
The Sacral Chakra
Also known as ‘the place of the self’, the second or Sacral Chakra is therefore all about your creative identity as a human. Its color is yellow and it located at the level of the sacrum below the navel and above the base of the spine.
This chakra helps you enjoy your life here on Earth. It is also considered to be related to relationships, sexual and otherwise.
When your 2nd chakra is balanced, you’ll truly relish in all the finer things in life. Life probably feels pretty good.
The Solar Plexus Chakra
The third chakra or solar plexus chakra located near the level of your stomach–around 2-3 inches above the belly button. It is the chakra where your self-confidence and personal power sit together in harmony.
Many call the Solar Plexus chakra the ‘Warrior Chakra’ as well. This is because this is by far the most powerful supporting chakra for bravery and boundary-setting. Its color is yellow.
The Heart Chakra
The Fourth chakra or Heart chakra is located in the chest around the heart space. Its color is green and when you’re experiencing feelings of love, compassion, and kindness…it’s this energy center you’re connecting to.
This chakra is fundamentally about love. Love is the most healing frequency of all. Similarly, when your Heart Chakra is balanced, you are easily able to feel love and empathy for yourself and others.
The Throat Chakra
The color of the fifth chakra or Throat Chakra is light blue and this chakra helps you to quite literally speak up. Because of this, you’ll do so in a smooth, confident, authentic way when it is functioning properly.
In addition, this chakra is your official seat of self-expression. The Throat Chakra also gives a voice to your personal preferences, beliefs, and values.
When balanced, you openly and lovingly speak the truth. Moreover, you express yourself in whichever way feels most in alignment at any given time.
The Third Eye Chakra
The sixth chakra or Third Eye Chakra is located at the third eye which is roughly between the eyebrows and is translated as ‘beyond wisdom’.
This is because this mystic energy center opens you up to expanded states of consciousness. They go way beyond the 5 senses and the material world we live in.
Extrasensory perception, intuition, and psychic abilities are all born from the third eye. This is because of the brain’s small yet extremely powerful pinecone-shaped, the pineal gland.
When your Third Eye is balanced, you’ll feel in tune with the physical and spiritual world. You’ll also be able to connect with both your ego and your soul. Its color is indigo.
The Crown Chakra
It is of course located at the top or crown of your head and signifies pure consciousness, connecting you to the Universe. Achieving a balanced crown chakra is the goal of any Spiritual practice. Moreover, it’s not easy to do.
Once truly balanced–it is said that you’ve achieved enlightenment. In other words, you’ve discovered the secret of who you really are. Its color is violet or white.
The chakras are an innate and primary part of our energy system and as such are indeed sensitive to all of our human experiences. That is why they sometimes get blocked (which shows up in our lives as excess emotion, unbalanced physical health and the like).
I like to “check in” with each of my chakras at the beginning of my morning meditation to see how I am doing energetically and to correct any imbalance I feel. There are many ways to go about balancing the chakras. Many people go to energy practitioners for help with this but you can do it yourself.
Practices like positive affirmations, intentional meditation, visual imagery, and the use of crystals can help. I encourage you to spend some time finding out which type of practice works for you.
Paying attention to the functioning of our chakras can definitely clue us in to where in life we are out of balance. Then armed with this information we have the ability to go about bringing ourselves, our mind, body, and emotions back into balance resulting in a much happier and healthier life!
One final word: just as our emotions change, just as how our bodies feel differently from one day to the next, the chakra functioning changes as well- we are in no way static- the chakras being an integral part of us, do not remain static either. Regular maintenance is a good idea!
~Here’s to Balance!~