Chakras 101
We’ve all heard some version of this before while stretching before yoga: “My energy’s totally off today;” “That guy’s chakras are all out of whack;” “you need to put a rose quartz on your heart chakra, it’s totally blocked.”
Any version of the above is common enough; but what do chakras and energy have to do with one another? Are they even related? And what the fuck is a chakra, anyway?
A chakra is defined by Oxford Languages as:
“…the centers of spiritual power in the human body, usually considered to be seven in number.”
Literally, chakra is a Sanskrit word that means “wheel’ or ‘disk;’ there are seven main chakras in the body. A ‘chakra’ refers to an energy point in your body.
The general philosophy goes something like this: these concentrated areas of energy should always be open and aligned to keep your energetic, emotional and physical body functioning and thriving.
First things first: what are the seven chakras?
1) Root Chakra
The root chakra (Muladhara) is at the base of the spine and is represented by the color red. It represents your foundation, being grounded, your sense of stability.
2) Sacral Chakra
The sacral chakra (Svadhisthana) is located below the belly button and is represented by orange. It’s your creative and sexual energy center and is connected to how you feel emotion.
3) Solar Plexus Charka
The solar plexus chakra (Manipura) is in the stomach. This yellow energy center is what’s in charge of your confidence, self-esteem and helping you feel in control.
4) Heart Chakra
The heart chakra (Anahata) is located exactly where you think it is—in the heart. Green, it represents our ability to give and receive love and compassion.
5) Throat Chakra
The throat chakra (Vishuddhua) is (of course) in the throat and is represented by blue. It’s all about the ability to be open and communicate.
6) Third Eye Chakra
The third eye chakra (Ajna) is between your eyes and is associated with indigo. Your third eye is related to your intuition, gut instinct and imagination.
7) Crown Chakra
The crown chakra (Sahasrara) is at the top of the head and is violet in color. This is your spiritual connection to all.
If you subscribe to Reiki or other western beliefs, if one or more of these chakras becomes over or underworked, it can have a severe impact on your overall well-being. Other chakras may be working overtime to compensate for one or more being out of balance. The shift in energy (whether too much or too little) will eventually present problems, however major or minor.
For example, say you met a great guy and are psyched, until you think of all the ways it could go wrong and become cripplingly insecure. This could mean that your root chakra is out of balance (why you present as being insecure), your heart chakra (you may not be ready to be vulnerable enough to receive love or face rejection), or both.
We’ll be spending more time on chakras and how important they are to our overall energy systems and well-being. Stay tuned for some chakra balancing rituals!
