The Chakras I

An Introduction To The Chakras

A chakra is an energy center in the human body that receives, processes and transmits information about particular aspects of being and experience. The Sanskrit word “chakra” literally means “wheel,” which is an apt name for these energy portals since they rotate in a circular fashion just like a wheel. It helps to think of the chakras as revolving doors between the human body and the outside world.

The chakras are created by currents of energy that are continually moving in the three dimensions of 3-D reality while interacting with the areas on the body that are most concentrated with nerve ganglia. There are six different currents — one “positive” and one “negative” for each of the three dimensions of physical reality.

So we have these polar opposite currents that create the swirling movement of the chakras in the body:

Upward-Downward Current (Liberating and Manifesting Currents)

Front-Back Current (Future & Past Currents)

Right-Left Current (Active & Receptive Currents)

As all of these currents move in and out of the bodily areas of the most concentrated nerve gangia, they create a swirling vortex that look quite a lot like DNA — in fact, it’s quite possible that our DNA is a microscopic representation of our larger energy field. Another great visual analogy is the caduceus that the medical field uses as their symbol.

As the energy moves upward and downward in a swirling fashion, it makes one full rotation for each chakra so that the front body chakras typically spin clockwise (“masculine”) and the back body chakras typically spin counter-clockwise (“feminine”).

In the most commonly accepted chakra model, the seven main bodily chakras are:

1st Chakra – Tailbone – Red – “Muladhara” 2nd Chakra – Sacral – Orange – “Svadisthana” 3rd Chakra – Solar Plexus – Yellow – “Manipura” 4th Chakra – Heart – Green – “Anahata” 5th Chakra – Throat – Blue – “Visuddha” 6th Chakra – 3rd Eye – Indigo – “Ajna” 7th Chakra – Crown – Violet – “Sahasrara”

The seventh chakra resides outside the body at the crown and facilitates complete union with the Universal Life Force, and therefore, is not related to the physical realm or any of the dualities of earth. It’s like a portal to pure spiritual essence.

The six bodily chakras however, relate quite clearly to the physical body, and have an elegant and harmonious, masculine-feminine (yang-yin) organization. “Masculine” as used here, is archetypal and refers to that which is firm, steady and self-contained, while “feminine” refers to that which is soft, yielding and expansive.

This interweaving of energies up-and-down the energy channel of the spine aids balanced integration of the masculine and feminine energies in every person, regardless of gender.

Here is a general description of the characteristics of all the chakras, along with suggestions on how to balance them. As you read about each chakra, consider the masculine or feminine quality of its nature.

Chakra One: Muladhara (Root)

Location: Tailbone Color: Red Element: Earth Quality: Masculine Gland: Adrenals (fight or flight response) Sense: Smell Seed Sound: Lam Some Gems: Garnet, tourmaline, and hematite Some Essential Oils: Patchouli, vetiver and sandalwood Right: To be — and to have (watch video) Primary Characteristics: Survival, security, safety, stability, patience, physical sturdiness, ability to meet one’s basic needs and “stand on one’s own”, career and financial success. Related Ailments: Any issues relating to the feet, knees, tailbone, bones or skin, intestinal and elimination disorders, such as constipation, diarrhea, spastic colon or hemorrhoids. To Boost & Balance: Do grounding meditations, rest and sleep well, walk with attention to your connection to the earth, drum, garden, make pottery on a wheel or sculpt with clay, observe trees and imagine their roots under the ground. Listen to the aboriginal instrument, the digeridoo. Ingest red foods and drinks. Beets are particularly strong since they’re a root vegetable and very bold in color. Place a Muladhara Chakra Booster Healing Tattoo™ on the lowest part of the back. Best Yoga Poses: All standing poses as well as yogic squat. Emphasize all forms of muscular energy, that is drawing your muscles inward – from skin to bone, from midline inward, and from periphery to core. Notice the affect of gravity and make sure the four corners of the feet, knees and pelvis are level and even (there’s a good reason the square is the symbol for earth). Also, hold poses longer to increase stamina and strength. Affirmation: I am strong, safe, grounded, and abundant.

Chakra Two: Svadisthana (Sacral)

Location: Pelvis Color: Orange Element: Water Quality: Feminine Gland: Testes/Ovaries (reproduction) Sense: Taste Seed Sound: Vam Some Gems: Carnelian, moonstone, mookaite jasper Some Essential Oils: Jasmine, neruli, orange blossom Right: to feel (watch the video) Primary Characteristics: Sexuality, creativity, reproduction, adaptability, emotional release. Related Ailments: Low back pain, hip joint problems, abdominal distention, genital diseases, urinary or bladder infections, menstrual problems or reproductive issues, prostate problems. To Boost & Balance: Indulge in sensual pleasures like a good massage, delicious meal, or hot, aromatic bath. Dance, move, hoola hoop to shake things up in the hip area. Engage in a wonderful session of love-making or self-pleasuring. Make a change – of any kind – to shake things up. Ingest orange foods – especially juicy ones like the orange itself. Place a Svadisthana Chakra Booster Healing Tattoo™ on the sacral portion of the back or below the belly button on front. Best Yoga Poses: Cat-cow undulation, lunge, pigeon, squat, bound-angle pose, and any other hip-oriented pose. Do vinyasa flow, one movement with each breath, pay particular attention to your emotions as you move, and open all of your senses as you practice. Occasionally exhale with your mouth open to release the jaw which is the “sister hinge” to the hips. Affirmation: I am creative, sensual, adaptable and emotionally open.

Chakra Three: Manipura (Solar Plexus)

Location: Solar Plexus Color: Yellow Element: Fire Quality: Masculine Gland: Pancreas (assimilation and digestion) Sense: Sight Seed Sound: Ram Some Gems: Tiger’s Eye, topaz, citrine Some Essential Oils: Lemon, peppermint, fennel Primary Characteristics: Personal power, confidence and “can do” attitude, mental agility, ability to differentiate, ability to shine one’s own light and to lead effectively. Related Ailments: Issues with the stomach, liver, pancreas or gall bladder, diabetes or hypoglycemia, digestion issues, chronic fatigue. To Boost & Balance: Get plenty of sunshine, read books and/or do mind puzzles, do detoxification programs, abdominal strengthening, take risks, perform before a group or lead a group, eat and drink yellow foods. Place a Manipura Chakra Boosters Healing Tattoo™ on the front and/or back of the solar plexus. Best Yoga Poses: Core poses like boat pose, pendant pose, or any version of plank – regular or side plank (aka vasisthasana). Inversions in the headstand and handstand family, and twists as they naturally detoxify. Adding breath-of-fire to your practice is good for this chakra too. Affirmation: I am confident, clear and able. I can do it!

Chakra Four: Anahata (Heart)

Location: Heart

Color: Green Element: Air Quality: Feminine Gland: Thymus (immunity) Sense: Touch Seed Sound: Yam Some Gems: Jade, peridot, rose quartz Some Essential Oils: Eucalyptus, any conifer oil, rose. Primary Characteristics: Love of self and others, compassion, kindness, peace and calm. Related Ailments: Diseases of the heart or lungs, breathing issues like asthma, allergies or sleep apnea, aches in the chest or upper back, hypertension, pneumonia, circulatory issues or immune system disorders. To Boost & Balance: Practice gratitude — keep a gratitude journal. Do “inner child” work – anything loving and supporting to your child-self, put a higher priority on spending quality time with yourself and loved ones. Remember, nobody comes to the end of their lives and wishes they had worked more hours. Eat and drink green foods. Place an Anahata Chakra Boosters Healing Tattoo™ on the front and/or backside of the chest. Best Yoga Poses: Backbends, backbends, backbends – bow, upward facing bow, camel, locust, bridge and fish, and arm balances while focusing on opening the heart as much as possible. Be sure backbends are emphasizing the upper back behind the heart chakra, and that the arms and hands are actively expressing heart energy – that is, extending vibrantly – even if back into the ground. Affirmation: I am pure, unconditional love and compassion.

Chakra Five: Visuddha (Throat)

Location: Throat Color: Blue Element: Sound/Vibration Quality: Masculine Gland: Thyroid (and parathyroid) Sense: Hearing Seed Sound: Ham Gems: Turquoise, soladite, blue agate Essential Oils: Ylang ylang, blue chamomile, gardenia Primary Characteristics: Expressing one’s deepest truth and creativity from the soul, integrity in all areas, living one’s dharma and experiencing unlimited abundance. Related Ailments: Problems with mouth, jaw, neck and shoulders, over or under-active thyroid, laryngitis, swollen glands or tonsils, gum disease. To Boost & Balance: Sing, write, speak, or use your voice in any expressive way. Have deep, meaningful conversations, and most importantly, continually remind yourself to speak your deepest truth and to set verbal boundaries – practice saying “no” when you mean it. Chant mantras. Purposely yawn often to open your jaw energy. Keep a daily journal. Eat and drink blue foods — blueberries are great! Place a Visuddha Chakra Boosters Healing Tattoo™ on the back of the neck. Best Yoga Poses: Poses that open the throat appropriately like fish and camel are good. Most importantly, throughout the entire practice, focus on keeping the natural curve of the neck (not pulling the chin forward or in toward the chest). Also, incorporate mantras into your practice, like the seed sounds “Om,” or “Ham” or “Om Namah Shivaya.” — or any others you like. Affirmation: I express my truth, and live with dignity and deep purpose.

Chakra Six: Ajna (3rd Eye)

Location: Above brows between the eyes Color: Indigo (deep, purplish blue) Element: Light Quality: Feminine Gland: Pineal (senses light) Sense: “6th Sense” (Intuition and E.S.P.) Seed Sound: Om Gems: Lapis lazuli, sapphire, azurite Essential Oils: Lavender, camphor, sweet pea Primary Characteristics: Wisdom, imagination, vision, deep discernment, perception that transcends duality, creating equanimity and peace. Related Ailments: Reoccurring headaches or migraines, eye problems, sleeping disorders, neurological disorders, strokes or depression. To Boost & Balance: Do exercises that balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain, gaze at the stars or ocean, meditate, and follow your intuition, make a vision board, ingest indigo food and drink. Place an Ajna Chakra Boosters Healing Tattoo™ above and between the brows or anywhere else on the body. Best Yoga Poses: Restorative poses where you go within and poses where you cross the midline of the body which helps to balance the hemispheres of the brain: eagle and gomukhasana are two good ones. Practicing with your eyes closed also draws you into the 6th chakra and your intuitive sense. Affirmation: I am intuitive and I know.

Chakra Seven: Sahasrara (Crown)

Location: Just above the crown of the head Color: Violet to White Element: Space/Energy Quality: Non-Dual/Unified Gland: Pituitary (master regulatory gland) Sense: Beyond senses – pure connection with the Divine Seed Sound: Silence Gems: Diamond, clear quartz, amethyst Essential Oils: Lotus, violet, frankincense and myhrr Primary Characteristics: Total experiential connection to the Universal Life Force, grace, beauty and bliss. Related Ailments: Mind ailments – both physical and mental, nervous system disorders, pituitary problems. To Boost & Balance: Meditate and visualize both spinal energy channels – up and down, keep a dream journal, engage in prayer or communicate with angels, saints and loved ones who are no longer on the physical plane, put clear quartz crystals in your water bottle or container to purify your water, and drink plenty. Place a Sahasrara Chakra Boosters Healing Tattoo™ on the top of the crown (if you’re bald) or anywhere else on the body – the back of the high heart (between the 4th and 5th chakras) is a particularly effective spot. Best Yoga Poses: Lotus and being still and silent. Restorative poses. Upright twists like seated lotus twist. All seated, upward reaching poses while emphasizing the lift of the crown. Affirmation: I am one with the Universe/Everything/God (pick your preferred term). Chakra Boosters Healing Tattoos,™ Energy Healings and Chakra Courses can all help you open and balance your chakras to create positive shifts in all areas of your life.