The Chakra System

Today, I thought I would give a brief overview of the chakra system that lives within each of us. I plan on making more in-depth posts of each chakra in the future, so stay tuned!

The Seven Main Chakra Points

When I do an energy healing, I not only focus on the physical body but on the chakra systems as well. The Sanskrit word “chakra” translates to “wheel” and when we look at the chakras in our bodies they usually appear as a swirling vortex of energy. The concept of the chakra system originated in India between 1500 and 500 BC, however, they are thought to have existed much longer, being passed down in an oral tradition. Our chakras rule certain areas and themes in our lives and bodies. Paying attention to our chakras can give us insight into the areas of our lives that need healing and attention. 

I like to think of my chakras as a cheat code in a video game. A few years ago, when I started my spiritual awakening, I did a lot of work on my root chakra. It was a tangible way to do some inner work I had been addressing in therapy. By acknowledging my chakras, caring for them, supporting them, and doing the work that came up in my everyday, I was able to move past many issues and heal some of the traumas that were holding me back and affecting all the areas of my life. 

Each chakra has a different location in the body. Let’s start at the beginning.

The Root Chakra. 

The first chakra is associated with the color red. It’s located at the base of the spine as well as the perineum. It’s also connected to the bottoms of our feet and the bones in the body. It’s ruled by the Earth element. This chakra is all about grounding. I mean think about it, when we walk around, the bottoms of our feet are touching the earth. And when we sit, usually criss-cross applesauce, we are touching the earth with our bottoms (close to the perineum.)When you have imbalances in your root chakra, chances are you’re feeling ungrounded. You may experience constipation, intestinal pain/issues, or problems with your feet. Emotionally it can feel like you are out of place in life, like you don’t know where you belong. Feeling unsafe and constant dysregulation in our nervous system, depression, anxiety, and fear of change are also good indicators that the root chakra may need some attention. 

Great ways to support your root chakra include physical exercise and paying attention to your body’s needs. Yoga asanas, grounding practices, and spending time with your feet in the dirt. Bodywork, somatics, and nervous system regulation techniques. Eating red foods and wearing red clothing with the intention of supporting your root chakra can also be very beneficial.

The Sacral Chakra

The second chakra is associated with the color orange. It’s located below the naval in the lower abdomen and the lumbar region of the spine. It’s connected to our reproductive system and ruled by the water element. This chakra is heavily attached to our emotions, creativity, sexuality, and social bonds and relationships. The sacral chakra is also thought to be the home of our inner child, so there can be a lot going on when this chakra is out of alignment. You may experience sexual dysfunction, an over or under-active sex drive, feelings of loneliness, an inability to set and maintain boundaries in relationships, and creative blocks. 

Focus on emotional healing to align your sacral chakra. Journaling is a great way to get in touch with your inner world and bring suppressed emotions to the surface. Yoga poses that focus on the hips and pelvic floor are also highly beneficial. Do inner child work, meditate, and spend time getting to know yourself. Working with a therapist or counselor and allowing yourself to feel safe in your emotional states.  Once again, eating orange foods and wearing orange clothing with the intention of supporting your chakra can be a simple way to start showing up for this chakra. 

The Solar Plexus Chakra

The third chakra is associated with the color yellow. It’s located just below the ribcage, right where its name suggests! It’s connected to our stomach and diaphragm and ruled by the fire element. This chakra is all about our sense of self, our identity, and personal empowerment. To me, it feels like a little sun situated inside my body. I often feel my solar plexus chakra connect to the sun itself, as well as the core of the earth. When this chakra is out of alignment, you may experience digestive issues, stomach pain and upset, low self-esteem and self-worth, and a sense of not knowing who you are.

To bring balance to the solar plexus, pay attention to your diet and what foods you’re eating. Try to think about what you’re putting into your body, but as an act of love and caring for yourself, not out of hatred or a desire to change your physical appearance. The solar plexus is associated with the fire element, and fire represents our spirituality, inner vision, desires, and motivation. Meditation is a great tool for all of the chakras, but I find it especially helpful with this chakra in particular. It connects us to our spiritual body and inner wisdom, and from that place of loving connection our confidence and self-worth grow! Affirmations, exercise, and mindful self-talk are all excellent tools for aligning this chakra. And don’t forget the power of the color yellow! 

 The Heart Chakra

The fourth chakra is such a magical place. Our heart chakras are the intersecting point of heaven and earth, the place where our upper and lower chakras meet. It's associated with the color green and is located right in the center of our chest. If you take a moment and ask your body where your heart chakra is, I do not doubt at all you will be able to feel it. The heart chakra is ruled by the air element, and if you haven’t guessed already, this chakra is all about love not only as an emotion but as a practice and a state of being. Empathy for self and others, compassion, emotional connectedness, and forgiveness all reside in the heart chakra. When the heart is out of alignment, you may suffer from things like high blood pressure, heart problems, lung and breathing issues, and chest pain. Emotionally, there is usually a lot of resentment sitting in the heart chakra. An inability to be vulnerable and emotionally connect to others, or even oneself, are other symptoms of a misaligned fourth chakra. 

For this chakra gratitude is a major helper. A consistent gratitude practice, writing what we are thankful for, and feeling feelings of appreciation for what we have already in our lives is a powerful heart opener. Breathwork and opening up the lungs are also extremely helpful. We should look for places in our lives where we can bring forgiveness into a situation, practice self-compassion, and look ourselves in the mirror while saying loving affirmations. Wearing or eating the color green, using green crystals, and connecting with plants and nature are also very healing. 

The Throat Chakra

The fifth chakra is associated with light blue. The color of the sky on a clear day. It’s located just above the clavicle in the center of the throat. This chakra is all about self-expression and communication. It is ruled by the element ether, which may be a bit confusing if you’ve never heard of it. Simply put, ether is empty space. It’s pure potential from which just about anything can be born. When this chakra is out of alignment, you will most definitely struggle with speaking up and asking for what you want. Trouble listening and understanding others, as well as being understood, is a major indicator that the throat chakra needs some help. Physically, thyroid issues, sore throats, poor oral health, and smoking are also signs that this chakra is struggling. 

Some great ways to support our throat chakra are singing (the louder the better!), practicing good oral hygiene, learning effective ways of communicating with others, and practicing active listening. There are great yoga postures that can help open up the throat area. I love wearing lapis lazuli on a necklace with the intention of supporting my throat chakra. Speaking affirmations out loud to yourself in the mirror can also go a long way with this chakra.  

The Third Eye Chakra

The sixth chakra is associated with a darker bluish purple, called indigo. It’s located along the browline in the center of the forehead. It’s also associated with the pineal gland, in the brain. The third eye is all about perspective and insight. This is often where we communicate beyond the physical realm. Our intuition and spiritual awareness are linked to the third eye. It's where our body and our mind connect. It’s associated with the element light. When the third eye is out of balance, blocked or simply unactivated, we can have a very narrow view of the world and our place in it. Lack of clarity, confusion, headaches, sinus pain, and lots of overthinking also come with a closed third eye. 

Meditation and having a clear chakra system from the root up are extremely beneficial for the third eye. Practicing visualization exercises, dream work, and imagination work can empower this chakra. Trying to see others' perspectives, zooming out and looking at all sides of a problem, and developing critical thinking skills are also very helpful. I find looking at the stars at night can be very invigorating to this chakra! Wearing the color indigo, and eating foods like eggplant and blueberries with that intention in place are also quite helpful. 

The Crown Chakra 

The seventh and final chakra in the main system we are discussing today is associated with the color violet. Some people, however, see this chakra as white. It’s located on the very top of the head and it is our connection point with the divine energy of the universe. This chakra is like the doorway to the spiritual realm. It's the conduit that messages from our spirit guides, god, the universe, come through. Where our individual consciousness meets universal consciousness. When this chakra is underactive, we can feel very closed off from the divine. Small minded thinking, individualism, migraines, and insomnia are common as well. However, when this chakra is overactive, we can feel disconnected from our bodies and earthly matters, or become obsessive when it comes to spiritual awareness. 

I believe the most effective way to easily align this chakra when underactive is meditation. Finding connection to the divine and our spirit guides is an integral part of aligning all of our chakras. Eating a diet rich in whole foods and reducing the amount of processed and sugary foods is also highly beneficial. Expanding our knowledge, reading books, and learning new things activates our crown chakra. And of course, wearing the color violet, I like to dye my hair purple! If this chakra is overactive, grounding and coming into your body more strongly is highly recommended. Exercise and focusing on your body and physical health will bring your awareness back to reality and the present moment. 

The seven main chakras are a great place to start on your spiritual healing journey. And they are just the beginning of learning how energy works in the body. There are tos of chakra points all over our bodies and I plan on going into more detail about them in later blog posts. Taking care of my chakras and my energy has had profound benefits in my life and I am so excited to share this knowledge with others who want to learn. I am always available to answer your questions through the comments, email, or text so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you find something confusing! Thank you so much for taking the time to sit and learn with me today, I love you and through love, all things are possible.