Chakras
The I AM Chakras
The Lower Chakras
Each of the seven chakras are governed by spiritual laws, principles of consciousness that we can use to cultivate
greater harmony, happiness, and wellbeing in our lives
and in the world.
- Deepak Chopra
The Sanskrit word Chakra literally translates to wheel or disk. In yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda, this term refers to wheels of energy throughout the body.
There are seven main chakras, which align the spine, starting from the base of the spine through to the crown of the head. To visualize a chakra in the body, imagine a swirling wheel of energy where matter and consciousness meet.
This invisible energy, called Prana, Chi, or Ki, is vital life force, which keeps us vibrant, healthy, and alive.
Chakra Importance
These swirling wheels of energy correspond to massive nerve centers in the body. Each of the seven main chakras contains bundles of nerves and major organs as well as our psychological, emotional, and spiritual states of being.
Since everything is moving, it’s essential that our seven main chakras stay open, aligned, and fluid. If there is a blockage, energy cannot flow. Think of something as simple as your bathtub drain. If you allow too much hair to go into the drain, the bathtub will back up with water, stagnate and eventually bacteria and mold will grow. So is too with our bodies and the chakras. A bathtub is simple; it’s physical so the fix is easy.
Keeping a chakra open is a bit more of a challenge, but not so difficult when you have awareness. Since mind, body, soul, and spirit are intimately connected, awareness of an imbalance in one area will help bring the others back into balance.
The first three chakras, starting at the base of the spine are chakras of matter. They are more physical in nature.
Base - First Chakra: The Muladhara is the chakra of stability, security, and our basic needs. It encompasses the first three vertebrae, the bladder, and the colon. When this chakra is open, we feel safe and fearless.
Sacral - Second Chakra: The Svadhisthana chakra is our creativity and sexual center. It is located above the pubic bone, below the navel, and is responsible for our creative expression.
Solar Plexus - Third Chakra: The Manipura chakra means lustrous gem and it’s the area from the navel to the breastbone. The third chakra is our source of personal power.
Heart Chakra: Connection of Matter and Spirit
Located at the heart center, the Fourth Chakra, Anahata is at the middle of the seven and unites the lower chakras of matter and the upper chakras of spirit. The fourth is also spiritual but serves as a bridge between our body, mind, emotions, and spirit. The heart chakra is our source of love and connection.
When we work through our physical chakras, or the first three, we can open the spiritual chakras more fully.
Spirit Chakras
Throat - Fifth Chakra: The Vishuddha chakra is the fifth chakra, located in the area of the throat. This is our source of verbal expression and the ability to speak our highest truth. The fifth chakra includes the neck, thyroid, and parathyroid glands, jaw, mouth, and tongue.
Third Eye - Sixth Chakra: The Ajna chakra is located in between the eyebrows. It is also referred to as the “third eye” chakra. Ajna is our center of intuition. We all have a sense of intuition but we may not listen to it or heed its warnings. Focus on opening the sixth chakra will help you hone this ability.
Crown - Seventh Chakra: The Sahaswara chakra or the “thousand petal lotus” chakra is located at the crown of the head. This is the chakra of enlightenment and spiritual connection to our higher selves, others, and ultimately, to the divine. It is located at the crown of the head.
Chakra Alignment
Awareness to which of your chakras are out of balance is key to aligning them. Our bodies are in constant flux between balance and imbalance. Unless you have an apparent problem in one area of the body, imbalances can be difficult to detect. That being said, it’s good to bring awareness to your body/mind and start to learn its signals and clues.
For example, frequent stomach pains can indicate a blockage in the first chakra. Not speaking your truth leads to clues about a blocked fifth chakra. Frequent headaches or stress around the area of the forehead may mean your sixth chakra is blocked.
Daily meditation and meditation with Crystals can relieve some of the issues related to the Chakras. The main goal of meditation and relaxation is to ultimately cleanse the Chakras and get them into alignment.
Using your intuition, take some deep breathes and feel which Chakra needs attention at this moment. Using your crystal of choice for that Chakra, spend a few minutes clearing out the energy that no longer serves you and bring in the healing white light of source. Take as much time as you need at each Chakra. Completing this cycle each day until you can feel the blockage has cleared.