Chakras
What are chakras?
The chakra meanings have been gathered since ancient times. These days more people are thinking about how they work and what their role is within the body.
Chakras Explained Simply:
The chakras are energy vortices or spirals that exist within the etheric body. A vortex is a swirling mass... that draws energy into its center.
The energy is drawn into this swirling mass... which is one of the chakras... and it also moves out as they transmit life force energy to the body.
The word chakra comes from the Sanskrit and means 'spinning wheel'. There are seven major chakras as well as other minor chakras. These swirling energy centers are situated along the spinal column and are located between the base of the spine and the crown of the head.
Primitive people knew when they felt out of balance. How did they know what caused their health problems? Perhaps they intuitively knew the problem was linked to a certain part of their body. Information on the chakra meanings found in ancient texts has been able to be substantiated by modern man using current equipment.
Yet these 'primitive' people had none of this equipment. They simply knew what action to take... intuitively. How can this be explained? Perhaps these people who lived so long ago were able to use their innate gifts to find the energy centers of the body. Ancient healers began to associate various parts of the body with such things as their emotions, their physical state, and their spiritual being.
It was also in ancient times when people first began to associate particular natural crystals with healing. They worked out the location of various chakras and the chakra meanings. And then intuited how to use various special natural crystals for healing. Using this ancient information combined with our current knowledge we now know that the concept of chakras is actually true.
First Chakra - Root
Studying the individual chakras begins with the root chakra , called Muladhara in Sanskrit. The root chakra is located at the base of the spine at the tailbone in back, and the pubic bone in front. This center holds the basic needs for survival, security and safety. The root chakra is powerfully related to our contact with the Earth Mother, providing us with the ability to be grounded into the earth plane. This is also the center of manifestation. When you are trying to make things happen in the material world, business or material possessions, the energy to succeed will come from the first chakra. If this chakra is blocked an individual may feel fearful, anxious, insecure and frustrated. Problems like obesity, anorexia nervosa, and knee troubles can occur.
Root body parts include the hips, legs, lower back and sexual organs.
The colors used for this chakra are red, brown and black.
The gemstones are Garnet, Smoky Quartz, Obsidian, and Black Tourmaline.
Healing Exercises:
Stomping your bare feet on the ground. Remember, the Root Chakra is all about feeling "grounded."
Practicing Kundalini Yoga can open up your lower spine. Bridge Pose is another good yoga pose to try out (see above image).
Healing Foods:
Red colored foods like apples and beets
Hot spices like red cayenne peppers and Tabasco sauce
Vegetables from the ground like potatoes and carrots
Animal proteins like red meat and eggs
Second Chakra - Sacral
The second chakra is often referred to as the belly or sacral chakra . It is located two inches below the navel and is rooted into the spine. This center holds the basic needs for sexuality, creativity, intuition, and self-worth. This chakra is also about friendliness, creativity, and emotions. It governs peoples sense of self-worth, their confidence in their own creativity, and their ability to relate to others in an open and friendly way. It¹s influenced by how emotions were expressed or repressed in the family during childhood. Proper balance in this chakra means the ability to flow with emotions freely and to feel and reach out to others sexually or not. If this chakra is blocked a person may feel emotionally explosive, manipulative, obsessed with thoughts of sex or may lack energy.
Physical problems may include, kidney weakness, stiff lower back, constipation, and muscle spasms.
Belly body parts include sexual organs (women), kidneys, bladder, and large intestine.
The main color used with this chakra is orange.
The gemstones are Carnelian Agate, Orange Calcite and Tigers Eye.
Healing Exercises:
Pelvic thrusts
Cobra Yoga Pose
Healing Foods:
Orange colored foods like oranges and tangerines
Nuts
Third Chakra - Solar Plexus
The third chakra is referred to as the solar plexus chakra. It is located two inches below the breastbone in the center behind the stomach. The third chakra is the center of personal power, the place of ego , of passions, impulses, anger and strength. It is also the center for astral travel and astral influences, receptivity of spirit guides and for psychic development.
When the Third Chakra is out of balance you may lack confidence, be confused, worry about what others think, feel that others are controlling your life, and may be depressed.
Physical problems may include digestive difficulties, liver problems, diabetes, nervous exhaustion, and food allergies.
When balanced you may feel cheerful, outgoing, have self-respect, expressive, enjoy taking on new challenges, and have a strong sense of personal power.
The body parts for this chakra include the stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, and small intestine.
The main color for this chakra is yellow.
The gemstones are Citrine, Topaz, and Yellow Calcite.
Healing Exercises:
Spinal Twist, the Bow, the Boat and the Camel Yoga Pose
Healing Foods:
Yellow colored foods like papayas and pineapples, in addition to corn, squash, beans, peppers and poultry, and spices like ginger and tumeric
Also brown rice, oats, millet, quinoa
Fourth Chakra - Heart
The fourth chakra is referred to as the heart chakra . It is located behind the breast bone in front and on the spine between the shoulder blades in back. This is the center for love, compassion and spirituality. This center directs one¹s ability to love themselves and others, to give and to receive love. This is also the chakra connecting body and mind with spirit. Almost everyone today has a hard, hurt, or broken heart, and it is no accident that heart disease is the number one killer in America today. Deep heart hurts can result in aura obstructions called heart scars. When these scars are released, they raise a lot of old pain, but free the heart for healing and new growth. When this chakra is out of balance you may feel sorry for yourself, paranoid, indecisive, afraid of letting go, afraid of getting hurt, or unworthy of love. Physical illnesses include heart attack, high blood pressure, insomnia, and difficult in breathing. When this chakra is balanced you may feel compassionate, friendly, empathetic, desire to nurture others and see the good in everyone.
Body parts for the fourth chakra include heart, lungs, circulatory system, shoulders, and upper back.
The main colors used are pink and green.
The gemstones are Rose Quartz, Kunzite, and Watermelon tourmaline.
Healing Exercises:
Bikram Yoga
Love, love, love. Simply opening up our hearts to others is the best healing exercise to open up the Heart Chakra.
Healing Foods:
Green colored foods like leafy vegetables and spinach
Green tea
Fifth Chakra - Throat
The fifth chakra is referred to as the throat chakra. It is located in the V of the collarbone at the lower neck and is the center of communication, sound, and expression of creativity via thought, speech, and writing. The possibility for change, transformation and healing are located here. The throat is where anger is stored and finally let go of. When this chakra is out of balance you may want to hold back, feel timid, be quiet, feel weak, or can¹t express your thoughts. Physical illnesses or ailments include, hyperthyroid, skin irritations, ear infections, sore throat, inflammations, and back pain. When this chakra is balanced you may feel balanced, centered, musically or artistically inspired, and may be a good speaker.Body parts for the fifth chakra are throat, neck, teeth, ears, and thyroid gland.
The main color used is light blue.
The gemstones are Aquamarine and Azurite.
Healing Exercises:
Shoulder stand (see image above)
Singing, chanting
Healing Foods:
Juices and teas
All types of fruits
Sixth Chakra - Third Eye
The sixth chakra is referred to as the third eye or brow chakra . It is located above the physical eyes on the center of the forehead. This is the center for psychic ability, higher intuition, the energies of spirit and light. It also assists in the purification of negative tendencies and in the elimination of selfish attitudes. Through the power of the sixth chakra, you can receive guidance, channel, and tune into your Higher Self. When this chakra is not balanced you may feel non-assertive, afraid of success, or go the opposite way and be egotistical. Physical symptoms may include headaches, blurred vision, blindness, and eyestrain. When this chakra is balanced and open you are your own master with no fear of death, are not attached to material things, may experience telepathy, astral travel, and past lives.Sixth chakra body parts include the eyes, face, brain, lymphatic and endocrine system.
The main colors are purple and dark blue.
The gemstones are Amethyst, Sodalite, and Lapis Lazuli.
Healing Exercises:
Child's Pose or other types of yoga poses with forward bends
Eye exercises
Herbal oil treatment (see above image)
Healing Foods:
Purple colored fruits like grapes and blueberries
Chocolate
Lavender flavored spices or tea
Seventh Chakra - Crown
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29428827 - the crown chakra[/caption]
The seventh chakra is referred to as the crown chakra . It is located just behind the top of the skull. It is the center of spirituality, enlightenment, dynamic thought and energy. It allows for the inward flow of wisdom, and brings the gift of cosmic consciousness. This is also the center of connectedness with the Goddess (God), the place where life animates the physical body. The silver cord that connects the aura bodies extends from the crown. The soul comes into the body through the crown at birth and leaves from the crown at death. When this chakra is unbalanced there may be a constant sense of frustration, no spark of joy, and destructive feelings. Illnesses may include migraine headaches and depression.
Balanced energy in this chakra may include the ability to open up to the Divine and total access to the unconscious and subconscious.
The main colors for the crown are white and purple.
The gemstones are Clear Quartz Crystal, Oregon Opal, and Amethyst.
Healing Exercises:
Meditation
Running or cardio
Healing Foods:
Since the Crown Chakra represents our spiritual connection to our surroundings, this Chakra does not benefit from healing foods.
The Crown Chakra is more likely to benefit from breathing clean and fresh air and sunshine.