What are chakras? The word chakra is from the Sanskrit word meaning “wheel of light”.
My understanding is that there are various chakra systems that the Ancient Hindu texts describe. I’m unfamiliar with the ancient traditions and meanings of the chakras. The ways in which I work with the chakras/energy centres are emotional/psychological/spiritual based. This blog, my studies and the ways I help clients, reflect the modern/western approach to the chakras that was initially researched and introduced in the 1930’s by Carl Jung, a psychoanalyst.
Translating and using the chakra system in this way is very popular amongst healers these days. Not only is it an amazing way to help others, but if interested, you can study it yourself to gain insight and knowledge into your own strengths and imbalances, providing you with a holistic, tried and true method of self care, so you can manage your emotions, health and wellbeing.
What Are The Seven Chakras?
In this method of understanding the chakras, it’s said there are seven major chakras or energy centres that lie vertically at the central core of the human body. This wheel-like energy centre has the ability to receive, assimilate and transmit energy. Each chakra correlates with certain organs, body systems and emotions. When your chakras are balanced, life force energy is able to flow freely through your human energy field which leads to a greater sense of peace, happiness, and overall health and wellbeing.
There are many ways to help balance your chakra system; Energy Healing, Sound Healing, Yoga, Meditation, Breathing Exercises and Affirmations are a few. Below is a list of the seven chakras with their qualities, how you feel when they’re balanced and a couple of simple exercises and affirmations to help balance them yourself.
Root Chakra/Energy Centre One:
Location: Perineum/Base of Tailbone
Qualities:
- Survival Centre/Foundation
- Fight, Flight or Freeze
- Body, Home, Finances, Work Environment
- The ability to identify with your body and its needs
Balanced Root Chakra:
- Feeling Grounded
- Being Present
- A sense of Stability, Safety and Security
- A sense of Belonging
How to Help Balance:
Exercise to connect with this energy centre: Walk barefoot in the grass and/or Stomp your feet like a sumo wrestler. Lay down on the grass/earth.
Affirmations:
“I am Safe;” “I am Grounded”
TIP: Try the exercises and affirmations if you’re feeling anxiety/fear. Helps you feel more grounded.
Sacral Chakra/Energy Centre Two:
Location: Lower Abdomen below the navel and lower back
Qualities:
- Emotions
- Pleasure through Senses
- Desire
- Sensation
- Sexuality
- Creativity
Balanced Sacral Chakra:
- Ability to Enjoy Pleasure
- Ability to Embrace Change
- Expression of Creativity
- Passionate
How to Help Balance:
Exercise to connect with this energy centre: Place hands on your hips and circle your hips/make figure eights envisioning your pelvis as if its a bowl filled with water
Affirmation:
“I am able to express my emotions and creativity freely”
TIP: Try the exercises and affirmation if you’re feeling emotionally or physically stagnant. Helps you feel more fluidity.
Solar Plexus Chakra/Energy Centre Three:
Location: Above your navel and center of back
Qualities:
- Personal Power
- Will
- Energy
- Direction
Balanced Solar Plexus Chakra:
- Confident
- Energetic
- Good Self-Discipline
- Reliability
How to Help Balance:
Exercise to connect with this energy centre: Belly Rolls, Breath Of Fire
Affirmation:
“I am confident being my true self”
TIP: Try the exercises and affirmations if you’re feeling a lack of confidence or power. Helps you feel more connected to Self.
Heart Chakra/Energy Centre Four:
Location: Center of your chest and between shoulder blades
Qualities:
- Give + Receive Love
- Balance in Relationship
- Forgiveness
Balanced Heart Chakra:
- Accepting
- Caring
- Compassionate
- Grateful
- Loving/Loved
How to Help Balance:
Exercise to connect with this energy centre: Close your eyes and place your hands over the middle of your chest. Breathing in, say to yourself I am loved. Breathing out, feel the words.
Breathing in, say to yourself I am loving. Breathing out, feel the words.
Breathing in, say to yourself I am loveable. Breathing out, feel the words.
Affirmations:
“I am loving to others and myself;” “I am loved, loving and loveable”
TIP: Try the exercises and affirmations when you’re having difficulties in relationships. Helps you feel more compassion and tenderness.
Throat Chakra/Energy Centre Five:
Location: Throat and Back of Neck
Qualities:
- Communication
- Expression/Creativity
- Sound
- Voice
Balanced Throat Chakra:
- Clear Communication
- Clear, Full Voice
- Speaking your Truth
- Good Listener
How to Help Balance:
Exercise to connect with this energy centre: Sing, hum or make noises, ideally somewhere you can be loud and silly and not care. Feel the vibration in your throat.
Affirmation:
“I am comfortable speaking my truth, lovingly”
TIP: Try the exercises and affirmations when you’re feeling like being heard but not ready to speak, preparing for an important conversation or public speaking. Helps you express yourself with clarity.
Third Eye Chakra/Energy Centre Six:
Location: Between eyebrows and back of head
Qualities:
- Intuition
- Dreams
- Vision
Balanced Third Eye Chakra:
- Creative Imagination
- Strong Intuition
- Deep Insight
How to Help Balance:
Exercise to connect with this energy centre: Close Eyes and Bring Awareness to the point between your eyes, centre of your head or Practice Eye Exercises with eyes open.
Affirmation:
“I am connected to the wisdom within”
TIP: Try the exercises and affirmations when you’re feeling disconnected from intuition and lack vision for your life. Helps you manifest.
Crown Chakra/Energy Centre Seven:
Location: Top of Head
Qualities:
- Consciousness
- Enlightenment
- Divine Wisdom
Balanced Crown Chakra:
- Spiritual Connection
- Open Minded
- Clear Perspective
How to Help Balance:
Exercise to connect with this energy centre: Meditation, Prayer
Affirmation:
“I am connected to the Universe/God/Spirit/Divine”
TIP: Try the exercises and affirmation when you’re feeling disconnected from Source/The Divine/Universe/God. Helps you feel connected to something/someone wiser than yourself.
The journey to understanding your energy centres is about exploration and self awareness. We have experiences everyday that can throw us off balance. Next time you’re feeling off balance, keep this system in mind. Try the exercises, or better yet study the chakras yourself! There are amazing authors and healers that go into this system extensively, each with their own twist. Barbara Brennan, Carolynn Myss, Anodea Judith, Donna Eden and Cindi Dale are few well known authors on the topics of Chakras, Energy Healing and Energy Medicine.
The more we understand ourselves, the easier we can get back on track. It’s not about a destination. It’s about the journey. It’s a Practice!
Are you grounded, in the flow, connecting with your power, opening your heart, expressing yourself vocally, connected to your intuition and divine consciousness?
