The talk about the 7 Chakras is everywhere, but what exactly are they? If you are new to the metaphysical realm or perhaps want more in-depth insight, this is the article for you. We will dive right into what each chakra is and its importance. With a fuller idea on all 7 chakras, you will be able to reach enlightenment through various forms of meditation.
First off, what is a chakra? A chakra is an energy point; it is to be a spinning disk of energy that needs to be open and aligned. The word chakra means wheel, referring to the point’s spinning energy. Each of the 7 chakras corresponds to bundles of nerves, organs, and parts of the body that affect our physical and emotional being.
With the significant impact chakra alignment has on the body, it’s essential to know the history of chakras.
Chakras were first mentioned in the Vedas, an ancient collection of Indian texts toward spiritual knowledge from 1500-1000 BC. Most recently, the rediscovery of chakras has grown, with the help of yoga movements. The complexity of these energy systems can make it difficult at first to understand, but once you know the basics, it is easy to apply these principles to daily life.
Located on the base of the spine or the tailbone, the root chakra provides stability. When the root chakra is blocked, it can bring upon arthritis, bladder issues, constipation, colon issues, or insecurities. When open and fully aligned, one will feel secure and grounded—physically and emotionally. The color of the root chakra is red and means physical identity, stability, and grounding.
When your root chakra is overactive, you will need to balance it by taking care of your survival needs first. Focus on your connection to your spirit, taking time to nurture yourself. Many lean toward praying, meditation, and connecting to spiritual guides. Volunteering, performing acts of kindness, and being compassionate toward others can take overactive energies away from your root chakra.
The sacral chakra is located just below the belly button and is orange. When this chakra is out of order, you might suffer from urinary tract infections, lower back pain, and self-esteem issues. A healthy sacral chakra will bring higher self-worth, pleasure, stimulated sexuality, and increased creativity. The overall meanings are sexuality, pleasure, and creativity—each of these qualities are essential to the human spirit.
To balance your 2nd chakra, you will need to draw energy away from the pleasure and bring it instead to your heart. Ask yourself simple questions before you do an action. For example, if you suffer from an overeating problem, ask yourself before overeating, “Is this good for me? Will it benefit me?”
When the third chakra is blocked, the standard-issue is digestive issues—such as heartburn, ulcers, eating disorders, and indigestion. The chakra is located in the stomach area or upper abdomen with a yellow color. The meaning of solar plexus chakra is self-esteem and confidence, promoting a sense of personal power. Without a properly aligned third chakra, one will begin to suffer from poor self-esteem and more substantial problems will arise.
To balance your solar plexus, open your heart with principles of love, happiness, and compassion. Meditate on sending love from your heart to the world around you. Focus on your chakra, imagining it as a beacon of flowing love.
The fourth chakra is one of the most important; it is located just above the heart. The green chakra means love and compassion, and when aligned, one can experience these virtues. When the heart chakra is blocked, one will experience heart problems, weight issues, and asthma. The worst consequence of an unaligned chakra comes from the person’s view on life. When blocked, one feels lonely, insecure, and isolated. The heart chakra allows one to feel the love around them, and it is the middle ground between the lower and upper chakras. The representation of the heart chakra stems from our ability to love and connect with others.
Most of the time, when your heart chakra is unbalanced, you need to love yourself more. Focus on some of the love given to others and give it back to yourself. Participate in an activity you enjoy and give yourself positive affirmations. Try taking a relaxing bath, a massage, or meditate on sending self-love to your being.
Found on the throat, the blue chakra connects with our ability to communicate. When the chakra is out of sorts, one might experience physical issues in the throat, mouth, gums, and teeth. Emotionally, one might be unable to voice their opinion, connect with others, speaks without thinking, dominates conversations, and gossips. When in alignment, the chakra allows one to talk and listen with full compassion and confidence. The throat chakra allows one to be true to themselves with the power of their own voice.
To balance your throat chakra, simply think before you speak. Before talking, ask yourself if it is sincere or kind. Do not be quick to speak or judge and accept the world around you.
Without a doubt, the most important chakra for its spiritual awareness, the third eye chakra, mustn’t be overlooked. Located between the eyes with an indigo color, the third eye chakra can bring pure consciousness to the person. When aligned, one will grasp intuition, imagination, and understanding. Those with a keen third eye will be able to follow their intuition, seeing the big picture of life. As it is crucial, when it is blocked, the consequences can be severe. From minor headaches, concentration issues, and hearing problems, the third eye can affect all of these. Persons with trouble listening, or seem to know it all may be experiencing a block.
To balance the third eye, you must take some time to remind yourself you are an earthly creature. Various persons who participate in the psychic realm and its activities have an unbalanced third eye. Focus on the earth and spend time outside! Connecting your body to the planet and remembering your physical state will adequately balance the third eye.
The final chakra is located on the top of the head with a violet color. The crown is linked to all chakras, otherwise being connected to all organs in the body. It not only affects all organs but the brain and nervous system. The meaning of this chakra is of awareness and intelligence—promoting overall well-being to the human body. Many consider it the chakra of enlightenment, representing a connection to the meaning of one’s life and spirit. When blocked, the person may experience narrow-minded natures, with stubborn and skeptical behaviors. On the other hand, when the chakra is aligned, it keeps all other chakras open—bringing pure bliss to the soul.
Unlike the other six chakras, there’s no need to balance the crown. Simply put, the crown chakra is never overactive, so there is no need to calm its energy. On the other hand, those experiencing an underactive chakra are only human. Many will try to energize their crown to achieve full enlightenment, but focusing on the other six chakras will bring you closer to energies in your crown. Persistence meditation, awareness, and mindfulness will provide the energizing experience in the 7th chakra.
All these energetic center points correspond fully to our bodies—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Without proper alignment, one may become out of whack and experience adverse symptoms. Fortunately, chakra blocks can be dealt with quickly and, once opened, can bring pleasure to the body. Keep an eye out for other blockages that might pop up unexpectedly. The chakra system is delicate and mustn’t be dealt with recklessly. Notice your body and mind’s patterns, to self-diagnose which chakra might be out of place. Each chakra has a specific term linked to it with its own treatment.
We recommend reading on chakras as much as possible, to grasp a complete understanding of the body. More information on balancing and realignment can be found online. Those looking for an overall chakra balance should regularly practice yoga, meditation, chakra cleansing, and bodywork.