THE 7 MAIN CHAKRAS (ENERGY CENTERS) AND YOUR BODY
There are 7 main Chakras, or energy centers, that are within your body. The chakras are the connections between your physical body and your soul. It is important to be aware of your energy centers, and how to work with them, so you can clear energy blocks. Blocks in your chakras can lead to physical, mental, and emotional issues if not addressed. The 7 chakras are part of the most commonly known chakra system made of seven energy centers located along the spine and ending in the brain, from the perineum area to the top of the head.
The mainstream chakra system is based on a Hindu chakra system that recognizes seven distinct “wheels” or “centers” of energy that are perpetually in motion along the human body’s spinal column. Each possessing its own color and vibrational frequency, these wheels are the catalysts of consciousness and human function. They govern various emotional issues, from our survival instincts and self-esteem to our ability to communicate and experience love.
A large part of getting to know how to work with your chakras involves chakra balancing. A chakra blockage and imbalance in one or several of 7 chakras can initiate mental, emotional, physical and/or spiritual ailments. Regardless of whether you use chakra stones, crystals, reiki, or another form of vibrational healing to restore chakra balance, being well-versed about chakra systems, their function, and the areas they govern can be invaluable.
So, let’s go over the 7 main Chakras, and how they relate to your body.
1. ROOT CHAKRA
The root chakra is the first chakra. Its energy is based on the earth element. It’s associated with the feeling of safety and grounding. It’s at the base of the chakra system and lays the foundation for expansion in your life. The root chakra is where we ground ourselves into the earth and anchor our energy into the manifest world. A blocked root chakra may turn into behaviors ruled mainly by fear. On the same line, when the root chakra is overactive, fear might turn into greed and paranoia, which are extreme forms of manifestation of imbalance in the first chakra. Issues with control over food intake and diet are related to it.
The first chakra is associated with the following functions or behavioral characteristics:
Security, safety
Survival
Basic needs (food, sleep, shelter, self-preservation, etc.)
Physicality, physical identity, and aspects of self
Grounding
Support and foundation for living our lives
Imbalance in the first chakra are related to:
Excessive negativity, cynicism
Eating disorders
Greed, avarice
Illusion
Excessive feeling of insecurity, living on survival mode constantly
LOCATION: BASE OF SPINE
COLOR: RED
FOODS: Think foods that are ROOTED in the ground or have red skin. Examples are beets, carrots, garlic, ginger root, leek, onions, parsnips, potatoes, radish, turnip, yam
OILS: Frankincense, Myrrh, Vetiver, Black Pepper
CRYSTALS: ruby, garnet, black tourmaline, black obsidian, red onyx, other red stones
AFFIRMATIONS: I AM Grounded. I AM Connected to Earth. I AM Safe.
2. SACRAL CHAKRA
The sacral chakra is the second chakra. It is associated with the emotional body, sensuality, and creativity. Its element is water and as such, its energy is characterized by flow and flexibility. It is associated with the lymphatic system. The sacral chakra is associated with the realm of emotions. It’s the center of our feelings and sensations. It’s particularly active in our sexuality and the expression of our sensual and sexual desires. Opening your sacral chakra allows you to “feel” the world around and in us.
The sacral chakra is associated with the following psychological and behavioral functions:
Emotions, feelings
Relationships, relating
Expression of sexuality, sensual pleasure
Feeling the outer and inner worlds
Creativity
Fantasies
Imbalance in the sacral chakra can manifest as:
Dependency, co-dependency with other people or a substance that grants you easy access to pleasure
Being ruled by your emotions
The opposite: Feeling numb, out of touch with yourself and how you feel
Overindulgence in fantasies, sexual obsessions
Or the opposite: Lack of sexual desire or satisfaction
Feeling stuck in a particular feeling or mood
LOCATION: About 2-3 inches below naval and same area of spine
COLOR: ORANGE
FOODS: Mandarins, mangoes, carrots, squash, pumpkin, yams, seeds, nuts
OILS: Ylang Ylang, sandalwood, patchouli, orange, clary sage, clove, fennel
CRYSTALS: orange aventurine, orange onyx, carnelian, sunstone, other orange stones
AFFIRMATIONS: I Feel the Truth. I AM a Sexual Being. I AM a Creator
3. SOLAR PLEXUS
“Radiate your power in the world,” could say the solar plexus chakra. Characterized by the expression of will, personal power, and mental abilities, the energy of the third chakra or Manipura in Sanskrit is mobilized when we assert ourselves in the world. When the Solar Plexus chakra is open and the energy in this center is balanced, these functions naturally find a clear and effortless outlet. However, in case the flow of energy is disturbed, whether because the Manipura chakra is overactive or blocked, symptoms may range from energetic and emotional to physical. It has a connection with the sun, heat, the energy of light, all forms of power. Closely connected to the digestive system, especially the gastric and hypogastric plexi, its main function is to help transform matter into energy to fuel your body. It governs metabolism and is commonly associated with the pancreas.
The main function of this energy center is to provide actual momentum to move forward and realize personal desires and intentions in the world. It plays a fundamental role in the development of personal power. It feeds one’s direction in life and the actions taken in order to reach your goals. It influences preoccupations about social status and self-image.
The Solar Plexus chakra is associated with the following psychological and behavioral functions:
Expression of will
Intellectual abilities
The “accounting mind” that categorizes everything, assesses the pluses and minuses in life
Personal power
Ability to establish ideas and plans into reality
At higher levels, it conveys wisdom
Imbalances in the third chakra can manifest as:
Excessive control and authority over your environment and people
Or the opposite in case of deficiency or blocked energy: Feeling of helplessness, irresponsibility
Being obsessed with minute details, seeing life through a filter of plus and minuses while losing sight of the whole picture
Being manipulative
Misusing your power
Lack of clear direction, lack of purpose or ambition
Making plans or having a lot of ideas without finding efficient ways to realize them
LOCATION: About 2-3 inches above your naval and through to same area of spine.
COLOR: YELLOW
FOODS: corn, pineapple, squash, beans, pepper, banana, brown rice, oats
OILS: Juniper, cedarwood, black pepper, hyssop, marjoram, lemon, vetiver
CRYSTALS: Citrine, tiger’s eye, yellow tourmaline, yellow aventurine, other yellow stones
AFFIRMATIONS: I AM Powerful. I TRUST my Intuition. I AM Confident.
4. HEART CHAKRA
The heart chakra, or Anahata in its original Sanskrit name, colors our life with compassion, love, and beauty. Driven by the principles of transformation and integration, the fourth energy center is said to bridge earthly and spiritual aspirations. When the heart chakra is open, you may feel being deeply connected, the harmonious exchange of energy with all that is around you, and the appreciation of beauty. However, when there’s a blockage in the heart chakra, you may experience difficulties in your relating with others, such as excessive jealousy, codependency, or being closed down, withdrawn. Because of its location, the heart chakra is associated to the cardiac system and the lungs. These organs are interdependent and rely on air and breathing to function properly. The gland associated with the heart chakra is the thymus, which is in charge of regulating the immune system.
The fourth chakra connects the lower and upper chakras. In other words, the heart chakra acts as a center of integration of earthly matters and higher aspirations. Far from seeing these energies as separate, the experience of the heart integrates them effortlessly and harmoniously. The Heart chakra is all about connecting and relating. The emphasis here is on love, giving and receiving, and how open we are in relationships. Love is the energy that helps transfigure emotions and experiences. It’s an essential element in any relationship, whether it’s is with others or oneself. Love experienced through the fourth chakra is not just about romance, but about going beyond the limitations of the ego and personal preoccupations to open up more fully to compassion and acceptance of all that is, as it is. When we live from our heart and our heart energy is opened and balanced, we can see clearly and position ourselves in any situation, no matter how challenging it is, with discernment and compassion.
The Heart chakra is associated with the following psychological and behavioral characteristics:
Capacity to love
Integration, bridge between earthly and spiritual aspirations
Transcending personal identity and limitations of the ego
Experience of unconditional love and connection with all
Heart-centered discernment
Appreciation of beauty in all things
Experiencing deep and meaningful relationships
You can see the following signs of imbalance in the heart chakra:
Being overly defensive
Feeling closed down
Jealousy; fear of intimacy
Codependency, relying on other’s approval and attention, trying to please at all cost
Always putting oneself in the role of the savior or the rescuer; or on the contrary, falling into victimization
Excessive isolation, being recluse, antisocial
Holding grudges, not being to forgive
At the physical level, it can manifest as:
Respiratory ailments, such as lung infection, bronchitis
Circulatory and heart-related issues
LOCATION: Center of chest
COLOR: GREEN
FOODS: GREENS!!! VEGGIES!!!
OILS: Rose, geranium, neroli, ylang ylang, jasmine, bergamot
CRYSTALS: jade, green calcite, green fluorite, pink quartz, rose quartz, emerald, ruby fuchsite
AFFIRMATIONS: I AM LOVE. I AM open to Receive Divine Love. I Vibrate at the frequency of Love.
5. THROAT CHAKRA
The throat chakra is the passage of the energy between the lower parts of the body and the head. The function of the Throat chakra is driven by the principle of expression and communication. This chakra is related to the element of sound. Through the throat, sound is propagated into the air and its vibration can be felt not just in our ears, but also in our whole body. It is an important instrument of communication and expression. The Throat chakra is associated to the pharyngeal and brachial plexi and is connected to the mouth, jaws, tongue, pharynx, and palate. It’s is also linked to the shoulders and the neck. The gland associated with the fifth chakra is the thyroid, which regulates the processing of energy in the body through temperature, growth, and in large parts, metabolism.
The Throat chakra is about the expression of yourself: Your truth, purpose in life, creativity. Note that this chakra has a natural connection with the second chakra or sacral chakra, center of emotions and creativity as well. The throat chakra’s emphasis is on expressing and projecting the creativity into the world according to its perfect form or authenticity. Another function of the throat chakra is to connect you to spirit. Because of its location, it’s often seen as the “bottleneck” of the movement of energy in the body. It sits just before the upper chakras of the head. Opening the throat chakra can greatly help align your vision with reality and release pressure that may affect the heart chakra that is located just below. The throat chakra is associated with the etheric body, which is said to hold the blueprint or perfect template of the other dimensions of the body. It’s an important reference point to align the energy through the whole chakra system.
The Throat chakra is associated with the following psychological and behavioral characteristics:
Expression, in particular ability to express your truth, to speak out
Communication, whether it’s verbal or non-verbal, external, or internal
Connection with the etheric realm, the more subtle realms of spirit and intuitive abilities
Propensity to create, projecting ideas and blueprints into reality
Realizing your vocation, purpose
Good sense of timing
When the throat chakra has an imbalance, it can manifest as:
Lack of control over one’s speech; speaking too much or inappropriately.
Not being able to listen to others
Excessive fear of speaking
Small, imperceptible voice
Not being able to keep secrets, to keep your word
Telling lies
On the opposite side, a closed throat chakra might manifest as excessive secretiveness or shyness
Lack of connection with a vocation or purpose in life
LOCATION: Center of your throat
COLOR: BLUE
FOODS: blue grapes, blueberries, dragon fruit, barley, wheatgrass, mushrooms
OILS: geranium, jasmine, sage, cypress, peppermint, eucalyptus, clove, lavender
CRYSTALS: Lapis lazuli, sodalite, blue agate, blue onyx, aquamarine (higher heart and throat, soothing, calms anxiety over speaking truth), other blue stones
AFFIRMATIONS: I AM a voice for Truth. I SPEAK MY TRUTH.
6. THIRD EYE
The third eye chakra is the sixth chakra. Located on the forehead, between the eyebrows, it is the center of intuition and foresight. The function of the third eye chakra is driven by the principle of openness and imagination. This chakra is related to the “supreme element”, which is the combination of all the elements in their pure form. In yogic metaphysics, the third eye or Anja chakra, is the center where we transcend duality – the duality of a personal “I” separate from the rest of the world, of a personality that exists independently from everything else.
The Third eye chakra is associated to the pineal gland in charge of regulating biorhythms, including sleep and wake time. It’s a gland located in the brain that is a center of attention because of its relationship with the perception and effect of light and altered or “mystical” states of consciousness. It’s positioned close to the optical nerves, and as such, sensitive to visual stimulations and changes in lighting.
The third eye chakra is an instrument to perceive the more subtle qualities of reality. It goes beyond the more physical senses into the realm of subtle energies. Awakening your third eye allows you to open up to an intuitive sensibility and inner perception. Because it connects us with a different way of seeing and perceiving, the third eye chakra’s images are often hard to describe verbally. It puts us in touch with the ineffable and the intangible more closely. Third eye visions are also often more subtle than regular visions: They may appear a bit “blurry”, ghost-like, cloudy, or dream-like. Sometimes however, the inner visions might be clear like a movie playing in front of your eyes. The third eye chakra is associated with the archetypal dimensions, as well as the realm of spirits.
The third eye chakra is associated with the following psychological and behavioral characteristics:
Vision
Intuition
Perception of subtle dimensions and movements of energy
Psychic abilities related to clairvoyance and clairaudience especially
Access to mystical states, illumination
Connection to wisdom, insight
Motivates inspiration and creativity
When the Third eye chakra has an imbalance, it can manifest as:
Feeling stuck in the daily grind without being able to look beyond your problems and set a guiding vision for yourself
Overactive third chakra without support from the rest of the chakra system may manifest as fantasies that appear more real than reality, indulgence in psychic fantasies and illusions
Not being able to establish a vision for oneself and realize it
Rejection of everything spiritual or beyond the usual
Not being able to see the greater picture
Lack of clarity
LOCATION: Forehead, in between eyebrows, and connects to base of skull in back of head
COLOR: INDIGO- BLUISH PURPLE
FOODS: figs, grapes, prunes, eggplant, purple cabbage, purple potatoes
OILS: juniper, clary sage, rosemary, lavender, thyme
CRYSTALS: tanzanite, amethyst, purple agate, purple onyx, purple fluorite
AFFIRMATIONS: I SEE Beyond Illusion. I AM able to SEE Clearly.
7. CROWN CHAKRA
The crown chakra is the seventh chakra. Located at the top of the head, it gives us access to higher states of consciousness as we open to what is beyond our personal preoccupations and visions. The function of the Crown chakra is driven by consciousness and gets us in touch with the universal. The Crown chakra is primarily associated to the pituitary gland, and secondarily to the pineal and the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland work in pair to regulate the endocrine system. Because of its location, the crown chakra is closely associated with the brain and the whole nervous system.
The crown chakra is associated with the transcendence of our limitations, whether they are personal or bound to space and time. It is where the paradox becomes norm, where seemingly opposites are one. The quality of awareness that comes with the crown chakra is universal, transcendent. Some describe this chakra as the gateway to the cosmic self or the divine self, to universal consciousness. It’s linked to the infinite, the universal.
The crown chakra is associated with the following psychological and behavioral characteristics:
Consciousness
Awareness of higher consciousness, wisdom, of what is sacred
Connection with the formless, the limitless
Realization, liberation from limiting patterns
Communion with higher states of consciousness, with
Ecstasy, bliss
Presence
When the Crown chakra has an imbalance, it can manifest as:
Being disconnected to spirit, constant cynicism regarding what is sacred
On the opposite side, an overactive crown chakra could manifest as a disconnection with the body
Living in your head, being disconnected from your body and earthly matters
Obsessive attachment to spiritual matters
Closed-mindedness
LOCATION: Top, center of head
COLOR: Violet, light purple, and White
FOODS: blackberries, blueberries, black currants, elderberries, figs, plums, prunes, raisons, eggplant, purple potatoes
OILS: frankincense, angelica, lavender, citronella, cumin, sandalwood, lemon, juniper, pine
CRYSTALS: selenite, clear quartz, amethyst, white agate, white onyx, fluorite
AFFIRMATIONS: I AM CONNECTED to the Universe. I AM DIVINE SPIRIT.
** Much of this info is a mix of my own knowledge, and more details from chakras-info dot com. I am not claiming credit or copyrights to the information here. ~ Crystal
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