All major Chakra's (except the crown chakra) are located in the spine in direct line with the area stated above.
Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning 'spinning wheel', and it relates to how a healthy chakra system works. When in perfect alignment, chakra's flow freely, spinning in clockwise and counter-clockwise revolutions, creating a movement of energy from the base of the spine to the crown and back again, which can be likened to how a group of inter-connected cogs work. Energy blockages to one or more of our chakras, will cause an imbalance, creating varying degrees of unrest within our lives. To clear these blockages, an awareness into how the quality of our lives is determined by how our chakra system is working on all levels - spiritual, emotional, and physical - is required. Then, with a little time and conscious effort, these blockages can not only be cleared, but a continual free flowing chakra system can be achieved, creating a perfectly balanced, harmonious state of existence.
Specific colours are associated with each of the major chakras. This range of colours is known as the spiritual rainbow, and is the most important aspect of not only the chakras, but our entire existence. It is through the knowledge of these colours, and hat they represent, that we begin to gain control over our lives, allowing us to take charge of our own spiritual evolvement.
Violet or White: The Violet or White energy of the Crown Chakra represents imagination, inspiration, and creativity. It is the doorway into the collective awareness of spirit, and provides the purely spiritual elements of life.
Balanced Crown Chakra: Persons with a balanced amount of Violet or White energy are awe inspiring. Likened to a balanced amount of Indigo energy, the Violet or White energy is true enlightenment, but added to this is the sense that the person has a union with all that is, knowing their place in the universe, along with their relationship to all things.
Unbalanced Crown Chakra: Persons with an imbalance of Violet or White energy is truly frightening - the quote, 'there is a fine line between genius and insanity', relates to these persons, showing itself as either; living pure fantasy in the hope of escaping reality, or as a power trip to create their own reality. Either way, it is very dangerous.
Indigo: The Indigo energy of the Brow Chakra holds the key to psychic abilities, such as, clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy, intuition, etc. Indigo energy provides inspiration and intuition.
Balanced Brow Chakra: Persons with a balanced amount of Indigo energy are truly enlightened. They do not advertise their enlightenment - they do not have to, nor do they wish to, for they have transcended their need or desire for praise. They are attractive souls who emanate love in its highest form.
Unbalanced Brow Chakra: Persons with an imbalance of Indigo energy have their head in the clouds, never seeming to be fully aware of what's going on around them. Another aspect can show itself as impatience for others, thinking that everyday thoughts and ideas are not worthy of their contemplation.
Blue: The Blue energy of the Throat Chakra represents communication and healing. Being the junction point between the physical and spiritual aspects of the human self, it shows itself as 'the still waters that run deep'. Blue energy provides spiritual direction.
Balanced Throat Chakra: Persons with a balanced amount of Blue energy will be incredibly alive and full of vitality, but show this in a non-aggressive way, such as seeming to move with virtually no effort. They are incredibly deep thinkers who project a great sense of calm.
Unbalanced Throat Chakra: Persons with an imbalance of Blue energy have a tendency toward becoming rigid in their thinking, not accepting change, and not willing to be adaptable. They can also show themselves as pacifists who will not stand up for themselves no matter what the consequences.
Green: The *Green energy of the Heart Chakra is represented by a perfect balance of the physical and mental aspects of life. Taking itself from the thought aspects of the Solar Plexus Chakra, this energy transcends into the higher mind. Green energy provides balance and selflessness.
* Some texts on Chakra's will state that the colour for the Heart Chakra is Pink, the reason for this being, the Heart has two Chakra's - one major, and one minor - the minor chakra is represented by the colour pink.
Balanced Heart Chakra: Persons with a balanced amount of Green energy will have a great affiliation with mother nature and her children. These are the incredible people whom you meet occasionally that hold unconditional love for everyone and everything. Just being around these people has a great calming effect.
Unbalanced Heart Chakra: Persons with an imbalance of Green energy tend to be selfish and acquisitive, often greedy in their approach to everything and never allowing themselves to become too emotionally attached to anyone.
Yellow: Yellow energy lends itself to thought. Being intellectually stimulating, this is the colour that awakens the seeking of wisdom. Yellow energy provides conscious direction.
Balanced Solar Plexus Chakra: Persons with a balance of Yellow energy will be great analysts, continually seeking the answers to why. Thought will be followed by a direct action.
Unbalanced Solar Plexus Chakra: Persons with an imbalance of Yellow energy will be over-analytical, spending so much time thinking, that they never get around to doing. This type of person is in danger of completely detaching themselves from their emotions.
Orange: Orange energy is still fairly physical, yet there is much more emotion tied up in it, lending itself to a more balanced state of physical existence. This colour represents the second stage of evolvement and is predominantly social. Orange energy provides motive.
Balanced Navel or Sacral Plexus Chakra: Persons with a balance of Orange energy will still be very physically active, but will be more likely to channel their energies toward community causes, craving the emotional, social attention this brings.
Unbalanced Navel or Sacral Plexus Chakra: Persons with an imbalance of Orange energy tend to be followers. They will be very emotionally insecure, constantly trying to fit-in.
Red: Red energy is purely physical and tied up with sensory stimulation, hence it's relation to Physical Sexual Energy, and the spiritual age of childhood. Red energy provides thrust.
Balanced Base Chakra: Persons
with a balance of Red energy will be very good at the physical aspects of
life, making great athletes. These people rely on external stimulation to
satisfy their needs, and tend to live in the moment, without plan.
Unbalanced Base Chakra: Persons with an imbalance of Red energy will
result in one of two ways; either as listlessness, where the person has
no energy, or it will manifests itself as lust, hatred, rage, and intolerance.
Many years have been spent in developing colour therapy techniques to try and help socially unbalanced persons in Western civilisation. Amazing discoveries have been made by the practitioners of such. However, their Eastern counterparts discovered wider ranging results thousands of years earlier.
This colour guide can help you recognise, not only areas within your life where you may be unbalanced, but also, what stage of spiritual evolution you are currently vibrating within.
There are seven emotional 'sign posts' which can be used
to indicate whether or not the chakra system is working in a balanced state.
These sign posts have their roots tied up in the early developmental stages
of childhood - a time in which we are continually learning and adapting
to our environment - a time in which our elders (all of which are our teachers)
unwittingly send confusing/conflicting messages.
Unless we have at least one elder who is perfectly balanced within their
own being, and is able to guide us by explaining these confusing/conflicting
messages, we are likely to develop a certain degree of emotional blockage
to some, or all of our chakras. However, like all areas of life, with a
little knowledge, effort, and time, the damage can be easily repaired.
7. Crown
Chakra: The Right to Be.
This incorporates all of the other emotional rights by allowing us to be
who we are. Any form of forced opinion or belief places this in jeopardy
by not allowing a 'live and let live' form of existence.
When this chakra begins to close down, it takes away the free flowing emotional
connection to all living things and breeds self doubt.
6. Third
Eye or Brow Chakra: The Right to See.
This right is damaged when we are told that what we perceive is not real,
when things are hidden or denied - such as a parents addictions. When our
vision or perceptions are misunderstood or discounted as 'silly', we begin
to close down our third eye, which in turn, begins to close down our psychic
ability.
Children see things that adults have ceased being able to see - or fear
seeing - but due to adverse reactions, train themselves to first question
what they see, then deny that they are seeing it.
5. Throat
Chakra: The Right to Expression and Truth.
When we cannot speak; are lied to; are not heard; are told to keep secrets,
our right to expression and truth is impaired. Being punished for what you
may say, leads to confusion and fear of honest expression. Couple this with
criticism for our attempts to speak, along with having our trust violated
when communicating private personal information, begins the closing down
of the throat chakra which manifests itself as distrust.
4.Heart
Chakra: The Right to Love and Be Loved.
This right is first threatened when parents place conditions on love. Making
statements like; 'If you ever decide to… , don't ever bother coming
home,' will show a child that they are worthy of love only as long as they
do certain things and act a certain way. These judgmental attitudes are
everywhere, breeding enmity toward men loving men, women loving women, one
race loving another, or even a person loving themself.
If conditions are placed on love in any way, we begin to question our right
to be loved, seeing ourselves as being unworthy of love. Everytime we are
hurt or rejected - denied the love we need - we restrict our right to love,
closing down our hearts.
3. Solar
Plexus Chakra: The Right to Act.
The name of this right can be extended to; 'the right to act upon what you
believe'. Basically, this right is restricted by abusive authority within
our culture which tries to force us to obey and follow what is presented
to us.
Protesting (non-violently) against things that we believe to be 'wrong'
by stating our own beliefs and trying to make a change, quite often leads
to abuse and punishment by authority figures. This abuse can seriously damage
our right to act by creating a fear which saps all of our personal power.
2. Navel
or Sacral Plexus Chakra: The Right to Feel.
Our culture has been one that has frowned upon emotional expression - thankfully
that is now changing (slowly) - allowing us the right to feel what we are
feeling, without guilt. Unfortunately, many generations have demeaned children's
emotions by making statements to the effect of:
'Stop crying, you have nothing to be upset about!'
'You should be ashamed of yourself!'
'You have no right to be angry!'
'How dare you speak to me this way!'
These comments manifest themselves in the form of guilt or shame, disallowing
the natural release of emotion whenever a person is feeling anything other
than happiness. This shame motivates persons to suppress their emotions
- creating a seething mass of emotional turmoil under the surface of the
calm facade - eventually delivering the individual to a state where they
feel on the verge of 'cracking'. This can be likened to a volcano - the
pressure is not released, yet continues to grow until it finds a fault in
the surface then blows.
1. Base
or Root Chakra: The Right to Exist.
If at an early age we are denied the basic necessities of survival, such
as; food, clothing, shelter, warmth, healthy environment, physical touch,
or medical care, our right to exist is threatened. As a result of this,
we will be likely to question the right to many things, such as; money,
possessions, love, personal space, and so on.
With this chakra blocked, it is usually shown as a non-caring attitude to
all things, quite often manifesting itself as anger, in which the sufferer
will disrupt the healthy environment of others through the use of violence.
The restrictions, or closing down of our chakras on an emotional level manifests itself as hatred, anger, disbelief, and doubt. It has a snowballing effect in the fact that it leads to a desperate attempt to find something to believe in - once found, the inconsistencies within are ignored due to fear, which then leads to trying to prove the belief to others in a vain attempt at self justification.
Gaining an insight into the spiritual and emotional effects
of the chakra system, creates a greater awareness of self. This awareness
of self begins a process of actually seeing the 'cause and effect' of actions
undertaken, which ensures greater insight into the potential damage we can
do to ourselves without conscious thought. However, this is still only two
parts of the story - there is also the physical effects of a balanced or
unbalanced chakra system.
Each chakra relates to specific parts of the human body and determines whether
or not they function properly. Likewise, each chakra relates to a specific
gland.
Each of the physical aspects of our being has to be working in perfect harmony to ensure the highest quality of life. Without knowledge of self, or an understanding of the chakra system, we leave our state of existence in the hands of chance - hoping that we will remain in good health for as long as possible.
Balancing the chakra system will create harmony within the self, which will - over a period of time of course - advance us along the spiritual evolution pathway. There are a number of individual ways in which to balance the chakra system, but when all are used in conjunction, they create a superior existence - one which we often pray for without realising that it is well within our own control to achieve.
Chakra Balancing Visualisation Meditation:
This exercise is especially beneficial for the spiritual aspects of existence.
1. Either sit or lie as comfortably as possible without crossing any part of your body so as to ensure an even flow of energy. (lying down during meditation, however, can sometimes cause you to fall asleep due to association).
2. Eliminate as many external
noises and distractions as possible and don't concern yourself with those
that you cannot control - if need be, play some peaceful instrumental/nature
sounds music to help.
3. Slow your breathing. Initially
you will need to do this consciously - breathing a little more slowly and
deeply - after a short while your body will find its own rhythm.
4. If you initially have difficulty relaxing your mind, begin by relaxing
your physical body; beginning at your toes and slowly advancing up the body,
feel every part of your physical body release its tension and become fully
relaxed. By the time you reach the crown of your head, you will discover
that you have not only relaxed your physical body, but also your mind as
well.
5. Picture yourself walking through a forest, fully experiencing every step
you take; your body jarring gently as you walk, the leaves crunching underfoot,
the smell of the forest.
6. You then come upon a beautiful shallow stream - you have heard the sound
of the water while you were walking - you step into the water, feeling the
pleasant chill as it washes over your feet and ankles.
7. You look around and notice
a beautiful waterfall. You walk closer to the waterfall and stand beneath
it. You feel the cool water wash over you as it gently falls from above.
You notice, as the water washes down your body, it cleanses you of all negative
thought and feeling, which gathers in a pool at your feet as an image of
grey liquid. You gently kick your feet to allow the grey liquid to be taken
away by the stream and be dealt with by the healing qualities of the universe.
8. Looking up and notice a beautiful
rainbow, the seven colours are so vivid.
9. You breath deeply, each colour, one at a time, beginning with the red.
Slowly, you breath in the red colour of the rainbow, and feel it as it enters
through your nostrils, and travels to the base of your spine to energise
your base chakra. You then breath in the orange colour of the rainbow, and
feel it as it gives energy to your navel chakra. You then breathe in the
yellow, then the green, then the blue, indigo, and violet.
10. Picture or feel a line of glowing white light running through the direct
centre of your being, passing through each chakra point. Allow this line
of white light energy to continue on its path until it descends far below
and above your body, connecting you to mother earth and heaven. Stay with
this feeling for as long as you like, enjoying the balanced state you have
created.
11. When you are ready, return to your physical body.
You will notice, over a period of time, that the feeling of balance will stay with you for longer periods of time after the meditation. If you practice this everyday, eventually that state of balance will remain with you always.
*For a full account on relaxation and meditation techniques, turn to the chapter on meditations and affirmations.
Chakra Balancing with Positive Affirmations.
This exercise is especially beneficial for the emotional aspects of existence.
The expression; 'If you throw enough dung at a woollen blanket, eventually some will stick', relates perfectly to the emotional aspects of life. As humans, we don't even need to have others throw negatives at us - we throw enough at ourselves in the form of negative self talk. Spend some time listening to the people around you (then listen to yourself), and see how often a person abuses themselves for making a mistake. You will be surprised at how often you hear someone say to themselves;
All of these may seem harmless enough, but they have damaging effects on
the emotional well being of your life, damaging the ability to cope with
daily stresses in a positive manner.
This emotional self abuse is directed at the fact that we are not perfect.
However, this thought process is misdirected - we are 'perfect' at being
human, and we are 'perfect' in being ourselves.
The following exercise should be used in conjunction with being consciously
aware of negative self talk. Whenever you find yourself about to deliver
some negative self talk, consciously counter it with a smile, stating to
yourself; 'I have the right to make mistakes' or, 'I have the right to be
human'. You will be amazed at how quickly the world around you seems to
be uplifted and much more positive than what it ever was before.
This exercise can be done in conjunction with the meditation, either when you are sitting peacefully prior to beginning the visualisation, or when you are coming out of the visualisation but haven't yet opened your eyes.
As with all of the exercises, begin with the Base chakra. Slowly chant the words like a mantra, taking the time to picture what you really mean as you chant.
· I have the right to exist. I have a right to
all of the necessities of life, along with fulfilling my desires. I have
the right to exist.
· I have the right to feel. I have a right to feel any emotion at
any time. I have the right to feel.
· I have the right to act. I have a right to my own beliefs and to
act upon them. I have the right to act.
· I have the right to love and be loved. I have a right to love and
be loved unconditionally. I have the right to love and be loved.
· I have the right to expression and truth. I have a right to express
myself with honesty along with being told the truth. I have the right to
expression and truth.
· I have the right to see. I have a right to my own perceptions and
visions. I have the right to see.
· I have the right to be. I have a right to be who I am. I have the
right to be.
A very simple exercise, yet very effective. However, this exercise will not deliver the immediate response that some of the other balancing exercises will, it is over a period of time that you will notice a marked difference. It is especially helpful to begin keeping a diary in which you make notes on your reactions to everyday occurrences, re-reading the first few entries after having performed this exercise for approximately one month will certainly surprise you.
Certain stones (crystals) relate to each chakra within the body, and although some stones have a greater degree of power than others, there is a simplistic/general guide in recognising what stone relates to each chakra - the colour of the stone usually determines which chakra it represents.
For a complete list of stones in relation to chakra's, turn to Chakras & their Stones.
Balancing Exercise
This exercise is equally beneficial for the spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of existence.
For this exercise find yourself a place where you can lie
down comfortably on your back (not your bed, it will be too easy for you
to fall asleep), and just as you would while performing a meditation, ensure
that you are in a relaxed atmosphere where you will not be interupted. Once
again, you can play some soothing instrumental/nature sounds music if necessary
(or just because you like to).
Place two pieces of Haematite on the floor at your feet.
Beginning with the Base chakra, place each stone upon your body in line
with each chakra:
Red Jasper - Pubic Bone
Carnelian -Navel
Citrine - Solar Plexus
Green Aventurine - Heart
Blue Lace Agate - Throat (within the depression at the base of the throat)
Amethyst -Brow (in place of the third eye)
Clear Quartz -Upon the floor above your crown in line with other stones
Hold a piece of Haematite within each hand. The Haematite
is used to keep you grounded to ensure that you don't end up off with
the pixies.
Allow your mind to go where it will - you will find yourself in a meditative
type of state - remain in this state for up to 15 minutes. You should notice
a marked difference within your state of being after this exercise.
Especially beneficial for the physical aspects of existence.
Food also plays a rather significant part in the running
of a healthy chakra system, and just as there certain stones and colours
that relate to each chakra, specific foods are allocated to each as well.
There are, however, two schools of thought in this area; some teachings
suggest that in order to truly get in touch with your chakra system, you
should spend one month at a time (beginning with the Base chakra) only eating
foods that are the colour of the chakra point. I tend not to agree with
this, due to the fact that it would be extremely difficult to ensure a balanced
diet under these conditions, and with balance being the main aim of our
existence, it could tend to be disruptive.
The responsibilities of the chakras in relation to the human body and spirit is immense - all aspects of existence are effected positively or adversely by such. Knowledge of the chakra system has only been in the Western world for approximately thirty years, yet it comes to us from thousands of years past. In ancient times, Hindu priests practised and passed on this knowledge to their students, stating; 'This is the most important of all wisdom; It is the pathway to true perfection'.
Hopefully, we will all one day reach this level of true perfection.