10/13/2009
Notes on ChakrasPermalink
Well, you should know by now that my office is named Chakra Khan, part in homage to the fabulous Chaka Khan, and part in reference to the idea of chakras, or energy centers in Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
So tonight I’ll share with you some notes on the chakras–maybe there will be a post on Chaka some other day. ;) I’d like to thank Mark from Aveda, who shared his knowledge with the staff of Blooma recently, for some great notes I’m utilizing here.
The word “chakra” translates from Sanskrit to English as “wheel.” Ayurveda (the major traditional medical tradition of India) recognizes 7 main chakras in humans.
The chakra centers are considered junctions between consciousness (mind) and matter (body) and link the various aspects of what makes us human: our physical, energetic, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual selves.
The idea is that when all is well, the chakras spin harmoniously and smoothly. Energy flows up and down through the chakras and helps us connect to the greater world. This is a really simplified version of the chakra story. . . here is a picture of a chakra chart to give you an idea where they are:
If you’d like to read more detail on how this all works, let me know and I can refer you to some books to read. For now I’m going to give a brief listing of the role of each chakra:
CHAKRA 1: the root chakra grounding~the foundation of the entire system
“without a stable ground, one cannot grow”
RED
location: the base of the sacrum
element: earth
when balanced: one has good energy, a feeling of security, and a healthy body awareness
when imbalanced: one feels lethargy, exhaustion, resistance to change, and need to slow down and ground
CHAKRA 2: the sacral chakra
nourishment~we move beyond our basic needs to relationships with others
ORANGE
location: just below the naval in the lumbar region
element: water
when balanced: stable energy, alertness, unblocked emotions
when imbalanced: one feels repression, holding back, and can develop addictions. one feels disconnected from their senses
CHAKRA 3: the solar plexus chakra
intention~motivation and tapping into your own power
YELLOW
location: solar plexus (just below the ribs)
element: fire
when balanced: one achieves goals and has strong motivation and direction, mental and emotional peace and self-confidence
when imbalanced: mental blocks, nervousness, impatience; lack of direction
CHAKRA 4: the heart center
harmony~the ability to see other points of view and feel sympathy, empathy, love
GREEN
location: center of the chest behind the sternum
element: air
when balanced: love and connection to self and others, one feels comfortable in all relationships
when imbalanced: depression, loss of connection, lack of caring, lack of self
CHAKRA 5: the throat center
expression~creativity and self-expression, communication
LIGHT BLUE
location: throat
element: infinity
when balanced: one has intensity, trust, inner reliance, and easily expresses ideas and thoughts
when imbalanced: one is selfish, has difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions, feels rejection
CHAKRA 6: third eye center
insight~developing one’s intuition, imagination, perception
DARK BLUE
location: between the eyebrows
element: all elements
when balanced: one feels strong intuition, a connection with the higher self, mentally fit
when imbalanced: one has mental blocks, over thinks things, and lacks depth
CHAKRA 7: the crown chakra
wisdom~connecting to something greater than oneself and expressing wisdom and enlightenment
VIOLET
location: top of the head (crown)
element: all elements
when balanced: one is strong, unclouded, and feels joy at the wonder of life
when imbalanced: one feels loss of self, spiritual abandonment, lack of connection to the universe.
I hope that gives you something interesting to ponder!
Until next time,
julie