What are Chakras?
Chakra = Sanskrit word translates to a wheel or disk. The Auravedic term refers to wheels of energy within the human body.
Each chakra corresponds to specific organs as well as physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual states of being and influence all areas of your life. Within these chakras is 'prana' (ultimate pure healing energy), that is all around us and within us, to keep us vibrant and healthy. When the chakras are open and aligned, our energy is constantly free-flowing, allowing prana to flow through them.
Chakras can be seen throughout not only ancient Ayurveda, but within modern western psychology. For example; Maslow hierarchy of needs. This pyramid is a direct representation of the chakra system - as it uncovers humans must have their most basic needs met (such as safety and security) before moving on to self-actualisation.
Below are the seven main chakras within the body and a breakdown of each!
Root Chakra
Location: the base of the spine
Linked to survival and whatever you use to ground yourself, including basic needs
Balanced: safe, centred, secure, grounded
Unbalanced: instability, anxiety, fear, ungrounded
Sacral Chakra
Location: above the pubic bone, below the navel
Linked to creativity, our passions and pleasures
Balanced: joy, pleasure, sexuality, nurturing, optimism, passion
Unbalanced: low libido, fear of intimacy/commitment, lonely, mood swings, sugar addiction, poor sense of creativity
Solar Plexus Chakra
Location: from the navel to about the ribcage
Linked to sense of self
Balanced: drive, self image, feeling of being in control, self esteem, willpower, assertiveness
Unbalanced: powerless, submissive, inferiority, digestive problems, unsure of self, obsession with power, narcissism
Heart Chakra
Location: the centre of the chest
Linked to emotion
Balanced: unconditional love, peace, compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, acceptance
Unbalanced: trust issues, lack of empathy, hateful, bitter, inability to give or receive love
Throat Chakra
Location: your throat
Linked to communication and speaking your inner truth
Balanced: clear communication, confident, creative expression, leader
Unbalanced: issues with expressing yourself, secrets, inability to listen, arguments or misunderstanding
Third Eye Chakra
Location: between the eyebrows
Linked to intuition, manifestation, inner wisdom, visualisation, clarity, serving as the bridge between you and the outside world
Balanced: imaginative, creative, high intuition
Unbalanced: can’t hear your intuition, trouble learning new skills, acting more judgmental or introverted
Crown Chakra
Location: the top of the head
Linked to spiritual connection to the higher power and the divine
Balanced: consciousness, oneness, spirituality, beliefs, understanding, awareness
Unbalanced: depression, lost/disconnection from spirit, learning disabilities, brain fog
Balancing
While each chakra has its own distinct properties, they're all thought to work as a system. That means if one's out of balance, it affects all the rest. Dancing, yoga poses and mudras (hand positions), crystals, colours and reiki can all help to shift the energy and allow a clear channel for prana to flow from head to toe.
With love,
B