“Each of the seven chakras are governed by spiritual laws: principles of consciousness that we can use to cultivate greater harmony, happiness, and well-being in our lives and in the world.”

The seven chakras are the main energy centers of the body. The concept of chakras dates to ancient India, as early as 1500 B.C., in the Vedas, the ancient sacred text of spiritual knowledge. The chakra system has been an essential concept in Hinduism and Buddhism. The word chakra translates to “wheel” in Sanskrit; the chakras are like wheels of free-flowing positive energy. Imagine the chakras like busy intersections in the body, where dozens of nerves come together to form spinning clusters of energy. When a chakra is blocked, it shows up physically and mentally. These energy centers govern the body’s physical well-being and have potent connections to human emotionality and spirituality. Each of these seven main chakras has a corresponding name, color, and specific area of the spine to the crown of the head. 

Root Chakra

The first chakra is the Muladhara, or root chakra, associated with the color red. This chakra represents our foundation, sitting at the base of the spine; the root chakra acts as the individual’s center of emotional and spiritual balance and consciousness. The root chakra is concerned with one’s needs, the material realm, the physical body. This chakra is responsible for self-preservation, safety, and feeling grounded. When it’s blocked, we feel threatened, as if we’re standing on unstable ground.

A blocked root chakra can manifest as physical issues like arthritis, bladder or colon problems, feelings of insecurity, fear with finances of our basic needs and well-being. When it’s in alignment and open, we feel grounded, safe, and secure, both physically and emotionally.

This first chakra relates to Kundalini, the cosmic energy force that can be awakened and moved up the spine through the other chakras. Yoga poses targeting this chakra are child’s pose, lotus, triangle pose, and garland pose.

The root chakra has masculine energy, symbolized by a red lotus with four petals. Elementally, it is associated with the earth, and its mantra is, “I have.” Meditating and repeating the affirmations, “I am safe. I am grounded. I am immersed in abundance,” help align with the root chakra.

Essential oils and aromatherapy that help balance the root chakra are earthy scents such as frankincense, cedarwood, and patchouli.

Eating bright red whole foods like raspberries also helps support the root chakra.

Crystals like Red Jasper, Red Agate, and Red Quartz are used to heal this chakra.

Sacral Chakra

The second chakra is the Swadhisthana, or sacral chakra associated with the color orange. The sacral chakra is located at the center of the lower belly and acts as the individual’s center of pleasure and passion both sensually and creatively. This chakra is the center of our creativity, sexuality, and inspiration: how we relate to our emotions and the emotions of others. The sacral chakra governs our reproductive systems, relationships, and feelings.

When the sacral chakra is out of alignment or blocked, a person may experience fear, depression, manic or emotional instability, feeling overwhelmed, loss of imagination or creativity, sexual dysfunction, reproductive issues, and even addiction. Those with a blocked sacral chakra could feel a lack of control in their lives. Emotionally, this chakra is connected to our feelings of self-worth. When we work to take care of our sacral chakras, we approach life with balance and appreciation.

Yoga poses that help realigns the sacral chakra are warrior II, goddess pose, low lunge, and pigeon pose. Physical movement can be beneficial, especially when targeted at the sacral chakra region through exercises like hip circles. These exercises help bring energy and circulation to the chakra, which then helps increase the flow of energy through the chakra.

The sacral chakra has feminine energy symbolized by a flower and a crescent moon. Elementally, the sacral chakra is associated with water, and its mantra is, “I feel.” The affirmations “I am living a pleasurable life. I am allowing my creativity to flow through me freely. I am radiant, beautiful, creative, and enjoy a healthy and passionate life.” help to engage more with the sacral chakra.

 Essential oils that help with the sacral chakra are ylang ylang, rose, sweet orange, and tangerine.

Orange Calcite is especially used for healing any emotional issues with the sacral chakra. For blockages related to the sexual realm, Carnelian is known as the stone related to energy and intimacy. Other stones for this chakra include Sunstone, Moonstone, and Tangerine Quartz. 

Solar Plexus

The third chakra is the Manipura or the solar plexus chakra associated with the color yellow. Located in the upper belly at the diaphragm, the solar plexus acts as the center of personal power. This chakra governs personality, ego, identity, individual freedom, choice, and authenticity. The solar plexus chakra is our motivation, willpower, and purpose. The solar plexus governs our digestive system and its respective organs; as a result, it has power over both the gut’s emotional brain and stored emotions.

If your solar plexus chakra is blocked, you might feel overwhelming amounts of shame and self-doubt. Blockages in this chakra are often experienced through digestive issues like ulcers, heartburn, eating disorders, and indigestion. It’s the chakra of our power; it’s related to our self-esteem and self-confidence. Those with an open solar plexus one is free to express their true selves. The solar plexus chakra has masculine energy and is symbolized by a yellow downward-pointing triangle within a ten-petaled flower.

Elementally, the solar plexus chakra is associated with fire, and its mantra is, “I can.”. Meditating and repeating the affirmations “I am enough. I have a purpose. I know who I am, and I live true to myself. I am confident. I am authentic. I am strong and powerful” helps balance the solar plexus.

Yoga is one powerful tool for realigning the solar plexus chakra. Specific poses that help target this chakra include bow pose, mountain pose, warrior pose, and seated spinal twist. Movement, in general, can effectively balance this chakra, as exercise can help create a personal sense of strength, growth, and power.

Essential oils that help balance the solar plexus are cedarwood, bergamot, rosemary, and chamomile. This chakra is related to yellow, partly because of its big tie to the power of the Sun.

Crystals such as Citrine is quartz used to heal this chakra. Yellow Tourmaline, which is one of the rarer colors of Tourmaline, can help clear your body of negative energy that may be blocking your solar plexus chakra. Tiger’s Eye, Yellow Jasper, and Yellow Quartz are other crystals used to heal this chakra.

Heart Chakra

The fourth chakra is the Anahata or heart chakra associated with the color green. The heart chakra is located at the center of the spine at heart level. Anahata roughly translates to “unhurt.” The heart chakra acts as the individual’s center of compassion, empathy, love, and forgiveness. This chakra governs one’s senses of trust, fearlessness, peace, generosity, gratitude, and connectedness, as well as change and transformation, healthy boundaries, depth in relationships with others, emotional control, and love for oneself. It is the bridge between the lower chakras (associated with materiality) and the upper (associated with spirituality). As the name suggests, this chakra can influence our ability to give and receive love—from others and ourselves.

Someone with a blocked heart chakra will have difficulty fully opening up to the people in their life, making them feel lonely and insecure. Blocks in our heart chakra can manifest in our physical health through heart problems, asthma, and even weight issues. These blockages are often seen clearly through people’s actions; it represents our ability to love and connect to others. If someone’s heart is open, they can experience deep compassion and empathy. The heart chakra has feminine energy and is symbolized by a green six-pointed star within a 12-petaled flower.

Elementally, the heart chakra is associated with air, and its mantra is, “I love.” Meditating and repeating the affirmations help balance this chakra “I am worthy and deserving of love. I forgive myself and others. I live with gratitude, and I honor the guiding of my heart.”

Yoga poses such as bow pose, camel pose, and any chest opener help balance the heart chakra. Breathwork is also a powerful practice, especially considering that the element of the heart chakra is air. Even something as simple as deep breathing can bring peace and calm to the heart and remove stuck or negative energy from the heart chakra.

Engage with activities that spark love and joy in your heart. Essential oils that help open the heart chakra are jasmine, lavender, rose, and sandalwood.

Crystals rose quartz, green aventurine, and malachite are incredible for balancing the heart chakra.

Throat Chakra

The fifth chakra is the Vishuddha, or throat chakra associated with the color blue. Located at the center of the neck, the throat chakra acts as the individual’s force of expression and individual truth, both internally and externally. A balanced throat chakra helps set us free from the fear of judgment or the need for approval from others. This chakra allows us to embrace our originality and unique individual experiences in the world. It is also associated with purity, thus connecting it to the concept of truth. The throat chakra gives voice to the heart chakra and controls our ability to communicate our power. When it’s functioning at total capacity, it allows us to express ourselves honestly and clearly.

Someone with a blocked throat chakra will feel like they have trouble finding the words to say how they truly feel. Voice and throat problems and any problems with everything surrounding that area, such as the thyroid, teeth, or the neck, all indicate a blockage. Blocks or misalignment can also be seen through dominating conversations, gossiping, speaking without thinking, and having trouble expressing your mind. When in alignment, you will talk and listen with compassion and feel confident because you know you are being true to yourself with your words.

The throat chakra has masculine energy and is symbolized by a blue 16-petaled flower. Elementally, it is associated with sound, and its mantra is, “I speak.” Affirmations that help with the throat chakra are “I speak my truth. My voice is unique and valuable. I trust myself and act on my truth. I do not harm with my words.”

Yoga poses such as shoulder stand, plow pose, lion’s pose, seated cat-cow, and neck circles can help to target and open the throat chakra.

Essential oils that help balance the throat chakra are frankincense, rosemary, and eucalyptus.

Blue-colored stones improve issues with the throat chakra. Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, and Blue Agate all have energy that stimulates and soothes the throat chakra.

Third Eye Chakra

The sixth chakra is the Anja or third-eye chakra associated with the color indigo. The third eye chakra is known as “the seat of intuition.” Translations of the Sanskrit of Anja are “perceive,” “beyond wisdom,” and “command.” Located in the center of the forehead, the third eye chakra acts as the individual’s center of wisdom and higher consciousness. The third eye allows for clear thought, spiritual contemplation, and self-reflection. It is the highest chakra in the physical body, providing visionary perspective. The third eye also helps determine one’s reality and beliefs based on what one chooses to see in the world. The third eye chakra primarily has to do with clairvoyance; as a result, the concept of the “sixth sense,” or strong intuition, came from this sixth chakra. This chakra is the wisest part of the human body and spirit; it governs self-awareness, higher wisdom, visualization, clarity, discernment, imagination, and creative dreaming. The third eye chakra switches the mentality of typical black-and-white or “me versus them” thinking for wider, more profound perspectives and interconnectedness when balanced and in alignment.

The third eye chakra has feminine energy. It is symbolized by indigo, an upside-down triangle, and a lotus flower. Elementally, it is associated with light; the third eye is associated not with any specific element but with everythingness. Its mantra is, “I see.” Affirmations aligned with the third eye chakra are “I honor and trust my intuition. I learn from my experiences. I am connected to the universe; I have clarity and peace of mind.”

Yoga poses like fish pose, shoulder stand, and child’s pose can be conducive to moving energy through to the third eye. Meditation is the most powerful tool for bringing the third eye chakra. Meditation leads to awareness and clarity and how to listen to our inner guidance and intuition.

Essential oils that help balance this chakra are patchouli, frankincense, lavender, and cedarwood. Third eye chakra crystals help with connecting one to their higher consciousness.

Stones blue and purple (indigo), which are the colors of this chakra, are most often used for healing in this area. Tanzanite is a stone that promotes healing and helps give direction. Sodalite is also a stone for this chakra that encourages intuition.

Crown Chakra

The seventh chakra is the Sahasrara, or the crown chakra, associated with the color’s violet or white. As the final chakra in the system, it has a unique role in human spirituality, connection, and consciousness. The crown chakra is known as “the bridge to the cosmos.” It is the most spiritual in nature of all seven chakras. Located above the crown of the head, the crown chakra acts as the individual’s center of spirit, enlightenment, wisdom, universal consciousness, and connection to higher guidance. In a sense, the crown chakra is our highest potential. It governs interaction & communication with the Universe, one’s feelings of inspiration & devotion, union with the higher self & the divine, and deeper understanding; simultaneously, it is responsible for a healthy spiritual life. When you fully open your crown chakra, you can access higher consciousness. The crown chakra is linked to every other chakra, therefore every organ in this system. So, it affects all organs, our brain, and our nervous system. It is considered the chakra of enlightenment and represents our connection to our life’s purpose. Those with a blocked crown chakra may seem narrow-minded, skeptical, sarcastic, or stubborn. When this chakra is open, it is thought to help keep all the other chakras open and bring bliss and peace.

The crown chakra has masculine energy and is represented by violet or white; its symbol is a circle with one thousand petals. Elementally, it is associated with thought and silence, and its mantra is, “I know.” Affirmations aligned with the crown chakra are “I am connected to the Universe and everything around me. I am guided by something greater than myself. I have access to wisdom and peace. I honor my spirit and the divine within me.”

The yoga pose headstand is beneficial for moving energy through the crown region. Engage in visualization in meditation; imagine bright white or violet light pouring into the top of the head.

Essential oils that help balance this chakra are frankincense, lavender, and sandalwood.

Stones that help with the crown chakra assist in clearing any blockages related to spirit and enlightenment. As a chakra so connected with spirituality, white and clear crystals are used to address this chakra’s problems. Clear Quartz and Selenite are popular crystals used to clear out any negative energy blocking your chakra. Diamonds are a powerful stone for this chakra in releasing energy and bringing illumination. Purple crystals are also connected with the crown chakra, such as Amethyst and Lavender Quartz.

I’ll never forget my first time connecting with the chakras; I had always been aware of their existence but never truly engaged. I went to a Buddhist temple in my hometown that I felt connected to. I saw this light shining through a window onto the floor as I entered the temple. I felt myself being called to sit in the light. I sat there for a while, breathed, and engaged with my body in what I was feeling. I inhaled my intent and exhaled, releasing all that no longer served me. I felt myself become aware of every part of my body. I saw colors through every breath as I focused on healing myself—colors such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and then white. I felt my soul replenished, and I knew I was entering a new phase of my life at that moment. That meditation changed me and awakened me to the power of chakras. 

Sources:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-7-chakras-and-their-s_b_844268

https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/