Celestial Goodness: An Introduction to the Chakras
As we are making our way through a time of immense cosmic change, I think it is important to have tools that can help us to stay grounded, centered, and at peace during times of great uncertainty. See this week’s video here: https://youtu.be/yfGZGwJaNvc
One of the tools that I utilize frequently, and that I actually think about pretty much every day is the Chakra system. Some people know about the Chakras through the practice of yoga and some people were introduced to the Chakras thanks to Aang in the Last Airbender.
I was introduced formally to the chakra system in 2014 by my friend Mr. Rishi and his family. They own the Good Luck store located in Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, Maryland. (https://goodluckprosperity.com) One of the services that the store offered pre-Covid, was that you could have an aura/chakra reading. I was initially a little skeptical, but I had a weird feeling that something was out of balance within me, I just couldn’t put my finger on it.
At the time, I was always worrying about everything—how would I pay my student loans? Was I earning enough money to take care of myself? I had also suffered a heartbreak before that I hadn’t properly healed from. I could feel the grief collected in my heart space, but I had no sense of how to move past it. Later, therapy would also help with that, but one of the most helpful tools for me during this phase of my life, was in learning about the chakra system, and then utilizing different healing modalities associated with the chakras to create more balance and overall wellbeing for myself. Mr. Rishi and his family also held numerous workshops that taught me a lot about the chakra system. I am grateful for the wisdom that they shared with me.
It is amazing how ancient tools and techniques still exist that can totally transform our lives. Elizabeth Behnke said, “There is deep wisdom within our very flesh, if we can only come to our senses and feel it.” I can guarantee you that even though it may seem New Age at times, the Chakra system is a very ancient system. They are part of a complex and ancient energy system that is believed to have originated in India.
They were mentioned in the Vedas, ancient sacred texts of spiritual knowledge dating from 1500 to 1000 BC, and they have been mentioned in ancient Buddhist texts. Some say that there are hundreds of chakras in the body. Since we are going to utilize the system commonly believed to have originated in India, we will focus on the seven primary chakras—these seven chakras are traditionally depicted as lotus flowers. I will also add that there is so much that you can study and learn, about the chakras’ that the material that I will cover on the blog and on the video will just crack the surface; I really encourage you to do your own research and see what aspects of working with the chakra system works best for you. Today I am going to give an overview of the seven chakra system, but in coming weeks, I will break each Chakra down individually.
So, you may have heard the term, “chakra” and might have wondered what they were. At the basic level, they are energy vortexes contained within the body. The word Chakra comes from the Sanskrit language and means, “wheel,” or “disk.” The chakras are like spinning wheels of energy, and they hold healing energy within. This energy is also referred to as Prana, and it is the essential and vital life force which keeps us healthy, alive, and vibrant. They run from the base of your spine up to the crown of your head. When our chakras are aligned, they help to keep us happy, healthy, vibrant, and whole. Having a blocked, overactive, or underactive chakra can lead to physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional imbalance. After my aura/chakra reading, we discovered that my heart and root chakras were not even spinning. Things were out of alignment, and those chakra points were drawing energy from the ones that were functioning properly. I could literally feel the imbalance.
Each chakra governs specific functions and has its own vibrational frequency, color, sound, and purpose. Having an understanding of the chakra system can help you in your own personal healing and manifestation journey. If your chakras are out of alignment, there are many things that you can do to help balance them. For example, you can eat foods of the color associated with the chakra, or you can wear clothes of that color. You can also engage in activities that help rebalance the chakra.
For example, dancing is a great activity, and depending on the moves can help rebalance a variety of the chakras. I remember going to an Estelle concert a few years ago. I love her music and vibe!!! She asked for volunteers to come dance on the stage. I ran up there so quickly and had a blast. Years ago, I would have felt super subconscious about my body and just being in front of people like that. When I came down from the stage, my mom said, “I guess we know whose root Chakra is working.”
It is very important to have a solid foundation in the root chakra. In a sense the chakras can draw energy from each other if one is imbalanced. Build a strong root, and develop the chakras working from the root to the crown.
So just as an overview, here is a small summary of the seven chakras.
The 1st chakra, the root chakra (Muladhara) is located at the base of the spine. It represents safety, security, and stability. Imbalanced attributes would be scattered energies, anxiety, and fears. When it is opened, we feel safe and fearless. We also feel good about our finances.
The 2nd chakra is the sacral chakra (Svadhistahana). It is located below the naval, and represents creativity, sexual and sensual energies. Imbalanced attributes would be repressed creativity, sexual dysfunction, emotional isolation, and withholding intimacy.
The 3rd chakra, the solar plexus (Manipura—lustrous gem), is located below the chest. This is our source of personal power. It represents self-esteem, pleasure, will power, and personal responsibility. Imbalanced attributes would be low self-esteem, control issues, manipulation and misusing power.
The 4th chakra, the heart chakra (Anahata) is located in the center of the chest. This chakra is also the connector between the matter and spirit. The lower and upper chakras. This is the bridge between our mind, emotions, and spirit. It represents love, self-love, and it governs our relationships. Imbalanced attributes would be depression, difficulty in relationships, and lack of self-discipline.
The 5th chakra (Vishudda) is located within your throat. It represents the ability to speak and communicated clearly and effectively. Imbalanced attributes would be shyness, withdrawn, arrogance, and increased anxiety.
The 6th charka –the Third Eye (Anja) Chakra is located in the center of the forehead, between the eyebrows, and it represents intuition and foresight. This is the center of our intuition. It is driven by openness and imagination. Imbalanced attributes would be lack of direction and clarity.
The 7th chakra—the Crown Chakra (Sahaswara—thousand petal lotus) is located at the top of the head. It represents states of higher consciousness and divine connection. This is also the chakra of enlightenment, and the spiritual connection that we have to the divine, our higher selves, and others. Imbalanced attributes would be cynicism, disregarding what is sacred, closed mindedness and connection with spirit.
As the weeks progress, we will jump right into learning more about each chakra and different tools that we can use to help make sure that we are in alignment.
Before we end for this week, here are some Affirmations for our Chakras.
Chakra Affirmations
Root
– I feel safe, secure, and peaceful
– I trust myself
Sacral
– I love my body—I am radiant, beautiful and strong
– I allow myself to experience pleasure
Solar Plexus
– I honor myself
– I feel my own power and successful in all that I do
Heart
– I am open to love, and I give and receive it effortlessly
– I live in balance and peace
Throat
– I speak my truth and express it clearly
– I easily communicate my feelings
Third Eye
– I am connected to the divine wisdom of the universe
– I am intuitive
Crown
– I live in the present moment
– I am complete and I feel at one with others, nature, and the divine
Thank you for joining me here this week! I am looking forward to our journey into the Chakras. May the stars shine brightly over your week, and may your Chakras be fully aligned. Thank you!
Celestial Goodness 