What are Chakras?

Many of you have heard of the aura through popular media and have a vague idea of what it is. (To learn more please read my article What is the Aura?) However, the term 'chakra' is probably completely foreign! Again, the question is, "Well what is it? Why does it need to be balanced?". Please read on to find out!

In my article on the human aura, I discuss how our bodies have a main energy axis that falls roughly about the spinal column area. Chakras are energy vortices that lie on this axis. Chakras are responsible for absorbing, metabolizing, and releasing all the life force energy from our environment (the Universal Energy Field) we need to live out our everyday lives. Each of the centers is responsible for specific physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual functions of the human body.

The word chakra is a Sanskrit term meaning wheel; a reference to the fact that many view the chakra as a spinning wheel or vortex. The philosophical theories and models of chakras as systemic vortices of energy were identified through the mystical practice of yoga in Ancient India where they were first described in the way we accept them today.

Lest you should think that the chakra system has no physical basis at all, each chakra roughly lines up with the major nerve ganglion that branch off from the spinal column.

As you can see there are seven major, widely accepted chakras. (Some systems use more or less.) As previously mentioned, each one has it's own responsibilities as far as the functions of our bodies and selves. The chakra centers do not just project from the front of our bodies, but also the back.

Each chakra, as you can see in the diagram, has a color associated with it. I can assure that these color associations aren't arbitrary. It is plain fact that color is simply varying frequencies of light waves. Each chakra, like the layers of the aura, have increasingly finer and higher vibrations as you move up the spinal column from the root chakra to the crown chakra. The root chakra, being the lowest vibration, vibrates at the frequency for red, and the same is true for the vibrations for each of the chakras moving up the spine. (According to a study done at UCLA by Dr. Valorie Hunt, "A Study of Structural Neuromuscular Energy Field and Emotional Approaches".)

Just as energy become more dense as the frequency of the vibrations is lower, it becomes less dense as it becomes higher. As the color frequencies become higher as we move up the spine, the function of the chakra becomes less and less physical starting at the root chakra. The following is a list of each chakra, it's color, and what functions is it responsible for:

Crown: (White/Violet) Our connectivity to the Universe and our personal concept of God. The knowledge that all is One.

Third Eye/Brown/Pineal: (Indigo/Violet) Our ability to sense things outside of what is considered 'normal' reality. (Psychic ability)

Throat: (Light Blue) Our expression of ourselves and our emotions through verbalization and our creativity.

Heart: (Green/Pink) Our ability to give and recieve love from others. Also, balance; balance between physical and spiritual, etc.

Solar Plexus: (Yellow) The center of our personal power, self confidence, self esteem, etc.

Sacral Plexus/Spleen/Sex: (Red) Our primal emotional center. Related to sexual energy, and in some systems in considered the 'seat of power' and origin of life.

Root: Our physical bodies, and our ability to feel safe and secure; to feel like all of our needs are taken care of. Also, the feeling of having a right to exist and Be.

This is, of course, an over simplified list since chakra theory is so complex, but it will give you an idea of what each 'means'.

The chakras, like our auras, will store information and energy from any and all physical, mental, emotiona, and spiritual trauma we have experienced in our lives and will manifest, often, as negative thought patterns. These traumas may manifest in the chakras as energy blockages, stagnations, or may cause the structure of the chakra to become malformed which prevents it from properly absorbing and releasing the necessary energies.

Balancing and cleansing the chakras is performed in order to remove those blockages on the energetic level with the intent that the harmful energy (or lack thereof) cannot continue it's descent into physical manifestation, stopping it before it can cause any physical illness or disease.

The human body is an amazing thing in and of itself, and when you begin to expand your awareness and learn that there are levels of the human body beyond the physical flesh and blood, the complexity (and yet amazing simplicity) of it can completely blow your mind. It is important to care and maintain this vital part of ourselves in order to maintain health and it is my goal to help you do just that and learn how you may begin to take the steps to be able to heal yourself on your own.