All About Chakras.

 

What Are Chakras?

Chakras are our energy centers. They are the openings for life energy to flow into and out of our aura. Their function is to vitalize the physical body and to bring about the development of our self-consciousness. They are associated with our physical, mental and emotional interactions. There are seven major chakras. The aura is often referred to as the eighth chakra. The first chakra (root) actually hangs outside of your body. It is located between your thighs, about halfway between your knees and your physical body. The seventh chakra (crown) is located on the top of your head. The remaining chakras, (sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, and third eye), are aligned in sequence along your spine, neck, and skull. Individually, your chakras look similar to funnels with petal-like openings. Chakras are invisible to the human eye, but they can be perceived intuitively by trained energy workers.

Introducing the Seven Major Chakras

In the next seven features we will be focusing on each individual chakra. We will talk about the colors associated with each chakra, learn the physical location of them, explore what purposes they serve, discover which physical dysfunction's are associated with each chakra, learn what types of information is stored in each of the chakras, etc. This should prove to be an educational and enjoyable journey.

Root Chakra.

The Base or Root Chakra is associated with the color red. This chakra is the grounding force that allows us to connect to the earth energies and empower our beings. Focusing one's attention on the color of a cherry popsicle or a juicy red apple can help bring our energetic body "down to earth" and in alignment with our physical body when we find ourselves energetically fleeting or in other words....."Spacing off."

Chakra One - Associations

·                        Color - red

·                        Sanskrit Name - muladhara

·                        Physical Location - base of the spine

·                        Purposes - kinesthetic feelings, movement

·                        Spiritual Lesson - material world lessons

·                        Physical Dysfunctions- lower back pain, sciatica, varicose veins, rectal tumors, depression, immune related disorders

·                        Mental and Emotional Issues - survival, self esteem, social order, security, family

·                        Information Stored Inside Root Chakra - familial beliefs, superstitions, loyalty, instincts, physical pleasure or pain, touch

·                        Area of Body Governed - spinal column, kidneys, legs, feet, rectum, immune system

Sacral Chakra.

The Sacral Chakra is associated with the color orange or red-orange. I usually visualize the Sunkist orange that has been dyed to attract the produce buyer, or the orange red of an evening sunset when I'm focusing on spinning my second chakra. This chakra often offers us the opportunity to lessen our "control issues" and find a balance in our lives, teaching us to recognize that acceptance and rejection are not the only options in our relationships. The process of making changes in our life stream through our personal choices is a product of second chakra energy. A well-functioning second chakra helps one to maintain a healthy yin-yang existence.

Chakra Two - Associations

·                        Color - orange

·                        Sanskrit Name - swadhisthana

·                        Physical Location - lower abdomen to the navel

·                        Purposes - emotional connection

·                        Spiritual Lesson - creativity, manifestation. honoring relationships, learning to "let go"

·                        Physical Dysfunctions- low back pain, sciatica, ob/gyn problems, pelvic pain, libido, urinary problems

·                        Mental and Emotional Issues - blame, guilt, money, sex, power, control, creativity, morality

·                        Information Stored Inside Sacral Chakra - duality, magnetism, controlling patterns, emotional feelings (joy, anger, fear)

·                        Area of Body Governed - sexual organs, stomach, upper intestines, liver, gallbladder, kidney, pancreas, adrenal glands, spleen, middle spine

Solar Plexus Chakra.

The Solar Plexus Chakra is associated with the color yellow. This is the area which defines our "self-esteem". The personality that develops during puberty is housed in this chakra....otherwise known as the "EGO". Anyone experiencing dysfunction of the third chakra is having difficulty obtaining or maintaining his/her own "personal power". This intuitive chakra is where we get our "gut instincts" that signal us to do or not to do something. Strong self-esteem is a required for developing intuitive skills.

Chakra Three - Associations

·                        Color - yellow

·                        Sanskrit Name - manipura

·                        Physical Location - solar plexus

·                        Purposes - mental understanding of emotional life

·                        Spiritual Lesson - acceptance of your place in the life stream. (self-love)

·                        Physical Dysfunctions- stomach ulcers, intestinal tumors, diabetes, pancreatitis, indigestion, anorexia/bulimia, hepatitis, cirrhosis, adrenal imbalances, arthritis, colon diseases

·                        Mental and Emotional Issues - self esteem, fear of rejection, oversensitivity to criticism, self-image fears, fears of our secrets being found out, indecisiveness

·                        Information Stored Inside Sacral Chakra - personal power, personality, consciousness of self within the universe (sense of belonging), knowing

·                        Area of Body Governed - upper abdomen, umbilicus to rib cage, liver, gallbladder, middle spine, spleen, kidney, adrenals, small intestines, stomach

Heart Chakra.

The Heart Chakra is associated with the color green or the color pink. This love center of our human energy system is often the focus in bringing about a healing. Thus, the words "Love Heals All" have great truth. Hurtful situations that can affect our emotional being are divorce or separation, grief through death, emotional abuse, abandonment, and adultery. All of these are wounding to the heart chakra. Physical illnesses brought about by heartbreak require that an emotional healing occur along with the physical healing. Learning to love yourself is a powerful first step in securing a healthy fourth chakra. The "wounded child" resides in the heart chakra.

Chakra Four - Associations

·                        Color - green, pink

·                        Sanskrit Name - anahata

·                        Physical Location - center of chest

·                        Purposes - emotional empowerment

·                        Spiritual Lesson - forgiveness, unconditional love, letting go, trust, compassion

·                        Physical Dysfunctions- heart conditions, asthma, lung & breast cancers, thoracic spine, pneumonia, upper back, shoulder problems

·                        Mental and Emotional Issues - love, compassion, confidence, inspiration, hope, despair, hate, envy, fear, jealousy, anger, generosity

·                        Information Stored Inside Heart Chakra - connections or "heart strings" to those whom we love

·                        Area of Body Governed - heart, circulatory system, blood, lungs, rib cage, diaphragm, thymus, breasts, esophagus, shoulders, arms, hands

Throat Chakra.

The Throat Chakra is associated with the color sky blue. This chakra is our will center. The healthfulness of the fifth chakra is in relation to how honestly one expresses himself/herself. Lying violates the body and spirit. We speak our choices with our voices (throats). All choices we make in our lives have consequences on an energetic level. Even choosing not to make a choice such as in repressing our anger (not speaking out) may manifest into laryngitis. We have all experienced that "lump in our throats" when we are at a crossroad of not knowing how to speak the right words in any given situation, perhaps even stuffing our own emotions. A challenge of the throat chakra is to express ourselves in the most truthful manner. Also to receive and assimilate information. Seek only the truth.

Chakra Five - Associations

·                        Color - blue

·                        Sanskrit Name - vishuddha

·                        Physical Location - throat, neck region

·                        Purposes - learning to take responsibility for one's own needs

·                        Spiritual Lesson - confession, surrender personal will over to divine will, faith, truthfulness over deceit

·                        Physical Dysfunctions- sore throat, mouth ulcers, scoliosis, swollen glands, thyroid dysfunctions, laryngitis, voice problems, gum or tooth problems, TMJ

·                        Mental and Emotional Issues - personal expression, creativity, addiction, criticism, faith, decision making (choices), will, lack of authority

·                        Information Stored Inside Throat Chakra - self-knowledge, truth, attitudes, hearing, taste, smell

·                        Area of Body Governed - throat, thyroid, trachea, neck vertebrae, mouth, teeth, gums, esophagus, parathyroid, hypothalamus

Brow / Third Eye Chakra.

The Brow Chakra is associated with the color indigo. It is also often referred to as the third eye or the mind center. It is our avenue to wisdom - learning from our experiences and putting them in perspective. Our ability to separate reality from fantasy or delusions is in connection with the healthfulness of this chakra. Achieving the art of detachment beyond "small mindedness" is accomplished through developing impersonal intuitive reasoning. It is through an open brow chakra that visual images are received.

Chakra Six - Associations

·                        Color - indigo

·                        Sanskrit Name - ajna

·                        Physical Location - center of the forehead

·                        Purposes - action of ideas, insight, mind development

·                        Spiritual Lesson - understanding, reality check point, detachment, open mind

·                        Physical Dysfunctions- brain tumors, strokes, blindness, deafness, seizures, learning disabilities, spinal dysfunctions, panic, depression

·                        Mental and Emotional Issues - fear of truth, discipline, judgment, evaluation, emotional intelligence, concept of reality, confusion

·                        Information Stored Inside Sacral Chakra - seeing clear picture (symbolic or literal), wisdom, intuition, mental facilities, intellect

·                        Area of Body Governed - brain, neurological system, eyes, ears, nose, pituitary, pineal glands

Crown Chakra.

The Crown Chakra is associated with the color violet or white. We use the seventh chakra as a tool to communicate with our spiritual nature. It is through these vortices that the life force is dispersed from the universe into the lower 6 chakras. It has been referred to as our "GOD SOURCE" - but this terminology might be confusing to anyone who equates God with religious dogma; because of this I choose to call it a spiritual connection or communicator. This chakra is often pictured as a lotus flower opening to allow spiritual awakening in an individual. The crown chakra could also be considered the well intuitive knowing is drawn from.

Chakra Seven - Associations

·                        Color - violet, white

·                        Sanskrit Name - sahasrara

·                        Physical Location - top of head

·                        Purposes - intuitive knowing, connection to one's spirituality, integration of the whole

·                        Spiritual Lesson - spirituality, living in the NOW

·                        Physical Dysfunctions- mystical depression, diseases of the muscular system, skeletal system and the skin, chronic exhaustion not associated with physical ailments, sensitivity to light, sound, environment

·                        Mental and Emotional Issues - discovery of the divine, lack of purpose, loss of meaning or identity, trust, selflessness, humanitarianism, ability to see the bigger picture in the life stream, devotion, inspiration, values, ethics

·                        Information Stored Inside Crown Chakra - duality, magnetism, controlling patterns, emotional feelings (joy, anger, fear)

·                        Area of Body Governed - top center of the head, midline above the ears

Simple Chakra Exercises (Chakracises)

1.                Crown Chakra Exercises - Chakracise your crown chakra through prayer or meditation.

2.                Brow Chakra Exercises - Chakracise your brow chakra with visualization, remote viewing, and lucid dreaming.

3.                Throat Chakra Exercises - Chakracise your throat chakra by gargling with saltwater, singing, or screaming.

4.                Heart Chakra Exercises - Chakracise your heart chakra by doing push ups, swimming (breast stroke), and hugging yourself.

5.                Solar Plexus Chakra Exercises - Chakracise your solar plexus chakra by dancing (do The Twist, hoopla hooping, and belly dancing).

6.                Sacral Chakra Exercises - Chakracise your sacral chakra with pelvic thrusts and circular pelvis movements.

7.                Root Chakra Exercises - Chakracise your root chakra by stomping your feet upon the ground, marching, and doing squats.

8.                Aura Cleansing Exercises - Chakracise your aura by cleansing it by showering, soaking an Epsom salt bath, smudging with sage wand, or deep cleansing breaths.

Foods that Fuel Your Chakras

When you think about your chakra system you probably aren't considering the types of foods that you consume. Because our chakras are energy vortexes and invisible to most of us one might well imagine that chakras would thrive on energy, prayer, or other such spiritual stuff... you know, those things that we can't see with the human eye. However, the chakras cannot sustain our human body without our help. It is important to feed and nourish the flesh in order to help support and fuel our chakras. Whenever one or more of your chakras is misaligned you might do well to look and see if you are not eating or possibly overeating the foods that fuel that particular chakra.

Chakra Foods

Check out the foods under each of the seven primary chakras below to help you determine how your current diet might be deficient or over-indulgent. We can do our part in helping bring balance to our chakras by eating a balanced diet.

Feeding Your Root Chakra

Grounding

·                        Root vegetables: carrots, potatoes, parsnips, radishes, beets, onions, garlic, etc.

·                        Protein-rich foods: eggs, meats, beans, tofu, soy products, peanut butter

·                        Spices: horseradish, hot paprika, chives, cayenne, pepper

Feeding Your Sacral Center

Nourishing the Sexual/Creativity Center

·                        Sweet fruits: melons, mangos, strawberries, passion fruit, oranges, coconut, etc.

·                        Honey

·                        Nuts: almonds, walnuts, etc.

·                        Spices: cinnamon, vanilla, carob, sweet paprika, sesame seeds, caraway seeds

Feeding Your Solar Plexus Chakra

Boosting Self-Esteem and Encouraging Self-Love

·                        Granola and Grains: pastas, breads, cereal, rices, flax seed, sunflower seeds, etc.

·                        Dairy: milk, cheeses, yogurt

·                        Spices: ginger, mints (peppermint, spearmint, etc.), melissa, chamomile, turmeric, cumin, fennel

Feeding Your Heart Chakra

Healing Emotional Hurts

·                        Leafy vegetables: spinach, kale, dandelion greens, etc.

·                        Air vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, squash, etc.

·                        Liquids: green teas

·                        Spices: basil, sage, thyme, cilantro, parsley

_{Heart Chakra Soup Recipe}

Feeding Your Throat Chakra

Speaking One's Truth

·                        Liquids in general: water, fruit juices, herbal teas

·                        Tart or tangy fruits: lemons, limes, grapefruit, kiwi

·                        Other tree growing fruits: apples, pears, plums, peaches, apricots, etc.

·                        Spices: salt, lemon grass

Feeding Your Brow Chakra

Awakening Third Eye Senses

·                        Dark bluish colored fruits: blueberries, red grapes, black berries, raspberries, etc.

·                        Liquids: red wines and grape juice

·                        Spices: lavender, poppy seed, mugwort

Feeding Your Crown Chakra

Opening and Clearing the Spiritual Communication Center

·                        Air: fasting / detoxing

·                        Incense and Smudging Herbs: sage, copal, myrrh, frankincense, and juniper 
Incense and smudging herbs are not to be eaten but are ritually inhaled through the nostrils or can be smoked through a ceremony pipe for purification purposes.