Meaning of the Chakras
As a beginner, it is not always easy to understand the principle and functioning of the 7 chakras. We frequently hear the term "chakra" in our daily lives, but few people really know their roles and their importance.
According to certain beliefs, the body is influenced by energy flows. They flow from one point to another, and improve our mental and physical health, as long as balance is respected. This results in a happy and harmonious life throughout our existence.
Unfortunately, our knowledge of the 7 chakras is often limited, and few of us use them correctly. Indeed, the vast majority of the world uses only its 3 lower chakras, and not all seven.
1. Root Chakra - This chakra is located at the coccyx, in the lower back - Its color is red.
2. Sacred Chakra - It is placed just between the pubis and the navel - Its color is orange.
3. Solar plexus chakra - It is located just below the sternum - Its color is yellow.
4.Heart Chakra - This chakra is located on the midline of the chest - Its color is green.
5. Throat Chakra - It is at the base of the throat - Its color is blue.
6. Chakra of the third eye - It is placed on the forehead - Its color is indigo.
7. Crown Chakra - The last chakra is at the top of the skull - Its color is purple
The birth of the 7 chakras
The chakras find their origins in ancient India, nearly two thousand years before Christ, in ancient sacred texts. It is one of the oldest written traditions of India: the Veda (which translates as "knowledge").
Concretely, the term chakra means "wheel" in Sanskrit. In order to understand it, we must put it in context: at that time, Indo-European tribes invaded India on board of chariots. These sacred texts would thus have appeared with these tribes, orally at first, then in writing. The word chakra, meaning "wheel", simply refers to those of the invading chariots.
To conceptualize the chakras, we must imagine energy points linked to each other, and above all, that communicate with each other. From a visual point of view, they are represented by the shape of a wheel. Logical! There are a total of 88,000 chakras, but only 7 of them really have a major impact on our body and mind.
Understand how the 7 chakras work
Let's assume that the entire universe is energy-based: your body is no exception to the rule. To simplify things as much as possible, you must imagine a source of energy, representing the life force of your body, and moving through it via energy points: the chakras.
These 7 central points are located from the base of your spine to the top of your skull. These energies often manifest themselves through vibrations, more or less felt depending on the person. In addition to being vital, they are connected to our life.
As soon as these energies circulate normally, and in sufficient quantity in each part of the body, then the person remains healthy and balanced. On the other hand, if these energies are out of balance, the health of the individual can be negatively impacted (both physically and mentally).
The first impact is first psychic and then physical, especially by reaching the vital organs. These disturbances are due in particular to two main problems:
• or one of the chakras is spinning too fast because it is too open;
• or one of the chakras turns, on the contrary, too slowly, because it is too closed.
To live a more harmonious and peaceful life with yourself and those around you, you must be able to rebalance your chakras. As you exercise, you will be more in tune with your inner energy cycles.
The 7 chakras: meanings and symbols
Each chakra has a very precise role in the daily functioning of our body. They affect a very specific part of our body, and together they form a virtuous circle. They are complementary to each other.
The first chakra : Root
The Root Chakra, as its name suggests, connects your body to the Earth through rooting. Its Sanskrit name is Muladhara, which is divided into two parts: Mula is translated as root and Dhara is translated as support. It is located at the coccyx, at the base of the spine, and influences up to the navel.
Generally, this chakra is mainly related to the aspect of survival. In our times, it is mainly primary needs that are associated with this chakra, such as family, financial and social stability, security (including food, sleep, etc.).
If you feel that you are sufficiently stable in terms of your finances, your home, or that you feel that you have inner peace, the good news is that your root chakra is perfectly balanced. It is symbolized by the color red.
The second chakra : Sacred
In Sanskrit it is called Svadhisthana. The interpretation of his name is "your inner self". Indeed, this chakra is linked to your own identity, and what you choose to do with it. To summarize, it is mainly based on feeling: sensuality, passion, creativity, pleasure, and even sexuality.
Its position is above the root chakra, i.e. from below the navel to the center of the navel. This energy allows our mind, but also our body, to enjoy the joys of life and hard work. It is through it that you make the right choices and are happy.
Once this chakra is balanced, you enjoy simple pleasures such as a good meal, painting, or even making love more intensely. Its main color is orange.
The third chakra : Solar plexus
The Manipura chakra, or solar plexus, is generally assimilated to "the city of jewels". Finally, it is neither more nor less than the link between your spirituality and your physique. In other words, it refers to the self-confidence, courage, and the will that one transmits to different things, other people and oneself. It is symbolically linked to power, in the sense of "I can".
Slightly below the chest and up to the center of the navel, the solar plexus is the stronghold keeping your feelings and the warning signals of your unconscious alert. Some people report feeling these signals, physically, through their intestines.
If you are a confident person who dares to make decisions and plans for the long or short term, your third chakra is probably well balanced. It also acts on the control of your emotions and your environment. It is characterized by the color yellow.
The fourth chakra : Heart
As its name suggests, the Heart chakra, or Anahata, acts primarily on feelings related to the emotional such as love, compassion and kindness. Its greatest virtue is the opening of oneself, towards the world around us as well as towards others.
It is undoubtedly the simplest chakra to understand. Of course, it is associated with the love of others, but also with the love we have for ourselves. Inevitably, it is also a preceptor of health and healing.
Its impact is quite broad, since it is active from the throat to the sternum, with a central point above your heart. Here are some of the positive effects that this chakra offers when it is balanced:
• you gain in kindness and generosity;
• you remain positive even during a difficult stage;
• you offer your services more easily, and listen to your heart.
The heart chakra is symbolized by the color green.
The fifth chakra : Gorge
Since the chakras are often very transparent in their meanings, you have certainly already understood what influences the throat chakra. Obviously, it is related to your voice, rather on an energetic level. Its Sanskrit origin, Vishuddha, can be translated as "purity". Closely related to the expression of your ideas and feelings, it allows you to tell the truth, very clearly.
The power of this chakra begins below the throat and extends to the eyes and heart. When it is balanced, the throat chakra allows you to express yourself better, more easily, with a better understanding of others, and this, in the most total sincerity. It is distinguished by its blue, almost turquoise color.
The Sixth Chakra: The Third Eye
Initially called Ajna in Sanskrit, this chakra offers extra-sensory perception, visualizing beyond our material world and the 5 senses we have. In reality, even your intuition or your psychic energy would be at the origin of the Third Eye.
It would allow you to acquire deep wisdom, and to understand it. It is an enlightened vision of our world, and a better interpretation of our environment, which are acquired when the chakra is well balanced. Moreover, you are much more open, and always perceive the good in each of the situations that present themselves to you, whether they are good or bad. The balance of the Third Eye is one of the accomplishments to be achieved in your spiritual development.
Perfectly located between your eyebrows, it radiates to the top of your skull and mouth.
It is found under an indigo representation, sometimes purple.
The seventh chakra : Crown
The last chakra is the crown chakra, or Sahasrara in Sanskrit. It is located slightly above the head. Connected with the first root chakra, they both have the particularity of being located at the extremities of the body. Its translation means "one thousand petals".
In fact, this chakra is the very energy of your consciousness. It is not easy to explain, but for you to understand the basic principle, imagine the energy that holds us firmly in place on Earth. We can't see it, but this force, which is called attraction, holds us and binds us to the Earth. It is exactly the same for the energy of the crown chakra: it is not visible, but it is there to connect us to the universe.
Its power extends infinitely around us, as it is a node of connections with the energies of the whole world. Its concept of balance is a little different from its predecessors, since the human being is in perpetual quest for the balance of the seventh chakra. In other words, if you manage to reach it, you will no longer be alive, strictly speaking, since you will have conquered suffering and death.
It is not so much the end that is important, but rather the goal to be achieved. It is by trying to harmonize your coronal chakra that you will succeed in keeping the other chakras in good condition.
The principle of chakra balancing
We have talked a lot about it before, but in the end, why is it necessary to rebalance the chakras, and how do we do it? First of all, before you learn why and how to rebalance your 7 chakras, you can already read our article: how to open your chakras?
This is the first step in the process that will follow for your chakras.
Why rebalance your chakras?
When there is a disturbance in our energies, flowing from one chakra to another, the entire system may malfunction. If you block even a single gear in a pendulum, it may be damaged or even stop completely. It is exactly this same basic mechanism that applies to energies.
Balancing the 7 chakras plays a significant part in the awareness of all those who wish to take control of their lives. You can easily improve your health, your happiness, and especially your success, simply by working on your chakras. It is at the moment when emotions or negative energies overwhelm your body that the chakras become blocked.
The Consequences of an Energy Malfunction
The chakras are directly related to the different diseases we can contract during our lives, which often manifest themselves at the moment when your chakras are most out of balance.
For example, each chakra, depending on whether it is too active or too passive, affects our health:
• The root chakra is directly linked to pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease, nervous system disorders, dementia, migraines, or chronic fatigue.
• The Sacred chakra, on the other hand, develops discomforts such as painful menstrual periods, infertility, prostate disease, or cysts.
• The solar plexus chakra will tend to impact our body with ulcers, digestive disorders, kidney or pancreas diseases.
• The heart chakra is responsible for heart and respiratory problems.
• The throat chakra triggers angina, hearing problems, asthma, or sore throat in general.
• The third eye chakra alone causes convulsions, sleep disturbances, and sometimes even hallucinations.
• Finally, the crown chakra causes nerve pain, as well as neurological and mental disorders.
How to balance our 7 chakras easily and simply?
To work with your 7 chakras, you must first have a more open vision of yourself and the world. Don't be afraid to make changes in your life.
Meditation
Everyone knows meditation, but few people practice it. However, without necessarily wanting to harmonize your 7 chakras, the practice of meditation can be useful to relieve the tensions and stress of a day.
It is effective to energize your energies and cleanse them. It invigorates the chakras by a calm and in-depth work. Meditation will help you to recreate your strengths and distribute them evenly. The physical benefits appear, in general, rather quickly. You are sharper, and your sleep is better.
To achieve good results, you should be in a lightly lit room, but above all in a quiet place. Sit in a suit with your hands on your thighs and relax. Your body should be completely relaxed, keeping your back straight and free of stiffness. Close your eyes, then, as you inhale and exhale deeply, focus on the chakra you wish to balance. Use visualization if necessary.
Yoga
The origin of yoga goes back to the same sacred texts as those of the chakras: the Veda. The postures, also known as asanas, help balance your chakras through flows that circulate throughout the body. When they are practiced correctly, you can feel a sensation of warmth that is none other than the energy of Kundalini.
Depending on the chakra you are working on, some of these postures are to be favored, for example :
• The raven for the root chakra;
• The frog for the sacred chakra;
• The posture of tension for the solar plexus chakra;
• The camel for the heart chakra;
• The cobra or sphinx for the throat chakra;
• The Guru Pranam for the sixth chakra;
• The Sat Kriya for the last chakra.
Aromatherapy
In the field of alternative medicine, aromatherapy, and in particular the use of essential oils, is becoming a very fashionable practice. There is a very precise method in this branch, related to the 7 chakras: vibratory aromatherapy. It consists simply, through gentle massage, to stimulate the chakras on targeted areas of our body.
For the connoisseur, another type of massage, slightly different, is known in Indian culture: Ayurveda. It is a manual work on certain energetic points, linked to the chakras, in order to decongest the organs and eliminate toxins present in the body.
Let's come back to our aromatic oils, which can also be used in a bath. Of course, each essential oil has its own use, which corresponds to a specific area, as well as to a specific benefit. It would be too long to mention them all, but some of the main ones will give you a more precise idea of the role of these oils.
Ylang-ylang is ideal for relieving and calming the mind. Neroli alone can relieve your pain. In case of heartbreak, you can use chamomile. It also influences your inner peace. Finally, cardamom is very powerful in maintaining the balance of all your chakras.
Good to know: essential oils can have virtues for one chakra as well as for another. It is important to know the effects of an aromatic oil before using it on one of your energy points.
Lithotherapy
Lithotherapy is a therapy of your 7 chakras with stones. To help you, accompany your sessions with one or more stones to facilitate the energetic rebalancing of your chakras.
To understand well, each stone, like essential oils, helps your chakras in a very particular way. Amethyst, for example, will not have the same effect on your heart chakra as on the crown chakra, for which it is extremely effective.
Moreover, know that colored stones are to be favored for the solar plexus chakra, which, let us recall, is the gateway to our emotions. Hence the importance of favoring stones that possess greater strength and vitality than others (especially those of red and turquoise color).
To go into more detail on the functioning and benefits of lithotherapy, please consult the article dedicated to it.
The food
A short passage on one of the points that perhaps does not seem to be of great importance, but which nevertheless plays a primordial role. We keep telling you this every day, but your diet directly interferes with the proper functioning of your 7 chakras. The various and varied recommendations are also valid in the balance of your chakras.
Green foods see their effectiveness increased in the harmonization of your heart chakra. In the same way, strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables help keep your root chakra properly balanced. The easiest trick to remember about what to eat, depending on the chakra to be balanced, is to associate the color of the chakra with the color of the food.
Help your spiritual life to improve!
To conclude, rest assured: crossing the threshold of becoming aware of your 7 chakras is not an easy step, quite the contrary. On the contrary, it is quite the contrary. Once you have realized this and start, little by little, to pay more attention to your energies, it is undoubtedly a happy and healthy continuation that awaits you.
Take time for yourself and the treatment of your unconscious "you" that is asleep: you will derive great joy and happiness from it!
