Chakras
this article appeared in Yoga Magazine 2003
If you practice yoga regularly you will probably have some idea of the chakra system, but even if you don't, it seems that an awareness of what chakras are and what they do is becoming essential. Quite aside from yoga's popularity, the availability of new holistic health and beauty treatments – no longer confined to the next generation spas in London such as Calmia and Elemis but available at many local salons – means that anyone interested in their wellbeing will have tripped over this word. No longer content with unravelling the knots in your shoulders, these treatments promise to rebalance your chakras into the bargain.
So what are chakras? Quite simply, chakras are vortexes of energy located throughout the body which receive, regulate and disperse the universal energies we need to function. The word chakra means moving wheel in Sanskrit and this is exactly what chakras are, centres of spinning energy. They are located in the energy body and extend into related locations of the physical body. There are traditionally seven major chakras and they function as pathways for energy to be drawn in, metabolised and sent to the major nerve centre nearest each one.
Here's how it works. There is an extensive network of psychic channels running throughout the energy body known as nadis – these paths often correspond to the meridians used by Chinese medicine. The main nadis are the Shushumna, the Ida and the Pingala. The Sushumna is the central nadi and is situated inside the spinal column, extending from the root chakra up to the brow chakra and passing through the chakras in between. This is through this nadi that the kundalini energy rises when awakened and from here that the thousands of minor nadis emenate and link with the nervous system of the physical body. The Ida nadi is on the left side of the body and has yin characteristics while the Pingala nadi is on the right side and displays yang qualities. These nadis draw in prana (life force, also called chi in the Chinese system) from the breath and weave around the Shushumna, connecting all the chakras and distributing the prana. The life force is thus channelled to the physical body and its organs, entering the body through the chakras.
The seven major chakras are located at intervals along the body starting at the tailbone and rising up to the crown chakra at the top of the head. In the twelve chakra system there are a further two in the aura above the head and another one in the skull, one at the navel and one below the feet. Here we will concentrate in the traditional seven chakras.
When all the chakras are whirling, lit up or open, bright and clean, then our chakra system is balanced and we are in good health. When a chakra becomes blocked, damaged, or muddied with residual energy, then our physical and emotional health can be affected. This can be the result of negative belief systems – the effects of our habits, feelings, beliefs, thoughts, fears and desires can all be found in our chakras. The way we eat and exercise, how we deal with our emotions and intellect are also imprinted on the energy body. However for most of us, fear, anxiety and stress are inevitable side effects of living in the modern world. In the acquisitive, materialistic society we live in, most of us are operating mostly out of our bottom three chakras.
But it doesn't have to be this way. The good news is that chakra balancing and clearing is something anyone can learn to do and there are a myriad of ways to do it. Colour meditation is one of the most common techniques – simply focus on each chakra and its assigned colour in turn – or take heart in practising hatha yoga: asanas work on one or several chakras at once, just be sure to breathe deeply in the postures.
As spiritual beings we are part of the energy field of the universe. You may consciously be aware of only the physical level but we are all interacting on many non-physical planes as well. The true nature of our being is spiritual. By balancing our chakras, we can live in harmony with all life, on every level.
Each chakra vibrates to a musical note, a sound (mantra) and a colour and represents an element, a geometric shape (yantra), Hindu deities, gemstones and crystals, a physical sense and controls various characteristics. Below is a brief explanation of what each chakra concerns.
Chakra characteristics
1) Root Chakra (Mulhadara in Sanskrit)
This chakra is about your connection with the earth, your birthplace, culture and foundations. It is influenced by your earliest relationships: if you received unconditional love from even one person when you were little, this chakra will be strong and your sense of survival will be good. If there was no such unconditional love available, then this chakra is likely to be weak. The mulhadara is the seat of the serpent energy, the kundalini. When awakened, the kundalini rises up through the Shushumna and pierces all the chakras until it opens the crown chakra, enabling enlightenment. This is also the centre of physical energy and vitality and the energy to succeed in the material world comes from this chakra. The first and the second chakra are associated with sexual energy though it is interesting to note that a man's sex organs are located in the first chakra, explaining why male sexual energy is experienced primarily as physical. A woman's sexual organs are mostly in the second chakra which is why women often experience their sexual energy as emotional.
2) Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
Svadhisthana means 'one' own abode' and so the second chakra is more concerned with pleasure in life and relationships. It is the seat of our emotions and is influenced by how emotions were expressed or repressed in the family during childhood, therefore governing one's sense of self worth, and ability to relate to others. It is also about friendliness, creativity, sexuality and is the seat of gut level intuition (' I can feel it in my guts'). Its relationship with our sexuality has given it a reputation for being the centre for pleasurable addiction to food, drink and material comforts. If your energies are focused here you will be preoccupied with sensual experiences.
3) Solar Plexus chakra (Manipuraka)
This is the seat of personal power and, according to the yogic tradition, the seat of intelligence. When you are at this level of development, you have to build a positive self-image, a strong ego. When this chakra is open, you have found your unique gift, the work that fulfils you. Manipuraka chakra is linked not just with the ego but also with the emotions – it is where we experience fear (the sensation of having butterflies when nervous). It can become unbalance if you worry, or have anxiety or fear and affects the digestion. Emotional turmoil and materialism also affect this chakra. Through this chakra we can feel the thoughts and emotions of other people and those lacking in energy can unconsciously draw energy through this centre, so it is important to protect this chakra. In oriental medicine, this is also considered the centre of the chi and the Hara (Japanese for belly) is located between this chakra and the second chakra
4) Heart Chakra (Anahatha)
The centre of balance, the three chakras below relate to instinctual nature, the three chakras above relate to a higher state of consciousness. The heart centre is the seat of compassion, but it is also our most vulnerable place. It is common to close off this chakra when we are hurt but by building a wall around the heart, we are also hemming ourselves in. A major part of healing is about mending the heart, it is at the centre of the body and when your heart energy flows, your whole being is full and you radiate love.
5) Throat Chakra (Visshudha)
Governs communication and expression, but not just of the verbal kind, when this chakra is purified and open, it can allow telepathic communication. It is said that reaching this level of spiritual development is hard, that most people function perfectly well from their first three chakras and if you manage to open the fourth, then that is quite an achievement. Most of us learn to 'shut up' when we are small children.Opening this chakra gives us a desire to communicate what we experience, which may make uncomfortable listening for some friends and so some old friends will fall away. But true friends will remain and new people will be drawn in by the new energy.
6) Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
The centre of psychic powers and higher intuition, this chakra also connected to the mind. It is important to open this chakra gradually when the lower chakras are already balanced. Yogis believe that the pineal gland – situated in the central part of the brain and relating to both the sixth and the seventh chakras – is the seat of memory so when the kundalini rises to pierce this gland, all your memories are available, from past lives to your future. Before the third eye opens, you see through two eyes, the duality between your conscious self (intellect, ego) and your higher self (intuition and spirit). When the third eye opens, these two images merge and the ego is dissolved in the higher self.
7) Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
The seat of pure consciousness. When the kundalini reaches this level, it comes into the realm of the purely divine. This is the thousand-petalled lotus leading into the eternal and infinite existence. Here is enlightenment and freedom from the wheel of life, of death and rebirth.
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First Chakra Root Chakra
Sanskrit name Mulhadara
Location Tailbone
Key word Survival
Colour Red
Sense Smell
Mantra Lam
Note C
Element Earth
When balanced Grounded, centered, belonging, able to trust, fully alive, independent, secure, patient, constant, ambitious, passion, commitment.
Excessive energy Greedy, egotistical, domineering, bossy, addicted to wealth, highly strung, hyperactive, violent, dishonest, cunning.
Deficient energy Lack of confidence, fearful, not grounded, weak willed, feels sexually inadequate, frustrated, alienated, feel unloved.
Second Chakra Sacral chakra
Sanskrit name Svadhisthana
Location abdomen, female sex organs, under belly button or spleen
Key word Sensation
Colour Orange
Sense Taste
Mantra Vam
Note D
Element Water
When balanced Friendly, creative, healthy.
Excessive energy Self serving, overly ambitious.
Deficient energy Frigid, distrustful, shy, overly sensitive
Third Chakra Solar Plexus chakra
Sanskrit name Manipuraka
Location at the solar plexus (below the breastone, behind the stomach)
Key word Power
Colour Yellow
Sense Sight
Mantra Ram
Note E
Element Fire
When balanced Outgoing, cheerful, respect for oneself and others, open and expressive, intelligent, strong nerves, self confident, flexible, decisive.
Excessive energy Perfectionist, judgemental, demanding, critical, rigid
Deficient energy Depressed, lacking confidence, hurt feelings, confused, poor digestion, fear of failure, poor judgement, apathy, aloof, feeling isolated, psychosomatic problems.
Fourth Chakra Heart chakra
Sanskrit name Anahatha
Location at centre of the chest
Key word Love
Colour Green. Secondary colour: pink
Sense Touch
Mantra Yam
Note F#
Element Air
When balanced Compassionate, humanitarian, desire to nurture others, empathy, healing, adaptable, generous, pure, gentle and innocent.
Excessive energy Overly critical, demanding, possessive, manic-depressive, angry, jealous, miserly and stingy, overconfident, allowing oneself to be walked on and taken advantage of.
Deficient energy Self pity, afraid of letting go and getting hurt, paranoia, indecisive, need for reassurance, unable to enforce will, self doubting, feeling unloved.
Fifth Chakra Throat chakra
Sanskrit name Visshudha
Location at the base of the throat
Key word Communication
Colour Blue
Sense Hearing
Mantra Ham
Note G#
Element Ether
When balanced Contented, centred, good speaker, artistically inspired, live in present, can mediate, easy grasp of spiritual teachings, sincere, truthful, independent.
Excessive energy Arrogant, self righteous, talks too much, dogmatic, gossips, fanatical, speaks negatively/harshly, clings to tradition, hyperactive.
Deficient energy Scared, timid, quiet, weak, unreliable, devious, cannot express thoughts, inconsistent, dependent, lack of creative expressions, suppressed or swallowed feelings.
Sixth Chakra Brow chakra
Sanskrit name Ajna
Location centre of forehead above the eyes
Key word Insight
Colour Indigo
Sense Inner vision/thought
Mantra Om
Note High A
Element Electrical or telepathic energy
When balanced Charismatic, has access to the source of knowledge, can receive guidance, experience cosmic conciousness, telepathy, astral travel and past lives, master of self, has spiritual energy, intuition, knowingness, wisdom, perception, healing, spirituality, idealism.
Excessive energy Egomanic, proud, manipulative, dogmatic, authoritarian, cold, mean, ungracious, bitter, fearful, oversensitive, impatient, 'spaced out', belittling.
Deficient energy Non-assertive, undisciplined, over sensitive, doubting, envious of other's talents, forgetful, superstitious, worrying.
Seventh Chakra Crown chakra
Sanskrit name Sahasrara
Location top of the head
Key word Spirit
Colour Violet. Also associated with gold and white
Sense 'Seventh sense'
Mantra Aum
Note High B
Element Cosmic energy
When balanced Open to divine energy, total access to the unconscious, can transcend the laws of nature, miracle worker, spiritual, faithful, peaceful, refined, joyful, grateful and love of beauty.
Excessive energy Sense of frustration, unrealised power, depressed, destructive, frequent migraines, sometimes distant, full of despair, destructive, problems with alcohol, egotistical.
Deficient energy No spark of fun or joy, catatonic, cannot make decisions, lack of memory, diminished concentration, feeling misunderstood, shame, self denial, negative self-image, lacking tenderness.
Further reading:
'Color and Crystals, a journey through the chakras' by Joy Gardner, published by The Crossing Press
'Kundalini and the Chakras, a practical manual' by Genvieve Lewis Paulson, published by the Llewellyn Publications
'Chakra Workbook, rebalance your body's vital energies' by Pauline Wills, published by Newleaf
© Kamin Mohammadi 2003