A bit about Chakras

♥ What are Chakras?

In the spiritual movement the word Chakra pops up quite a bit.  That's fine if you know what it means.  Pretty confusing if you don't.  The following is a short explanation of what the Chakra System is all about.

The Human Energy Field or Aura is an energetic, multi-dimensional field that surrounds penetrates, and is the human body.  It has rivers of energy called meridians that nourish every organ and cell in our bodies.  These rivers are supplied by seven cone shaped, spinning vortexes of energy called chakras (pronounced "Shock-ra").  These chakras, in turn, collect energy from the Universal Energy Field that is all around us.

The seven chakras carry the colors of the rainbow spectrum.  The Root Chakra, located at the base of the spine carries the color red.  The Sacral Chakra, our creative center, vibrates to the color orange.  The Solar Plexus Chakra, our self centeredness, carries the color yellow.  The Heart Chakra, our feeling center, resonates with the color green.  The Throat Chakra, responsible for our expression, carries the color blue.  The Brow Chakra radiates indigo is responsible for our dreams and questioning of spiritual things.  And the Crown Chakra radiates a violet or white, the highest vibrational rate in the spectrum.  A more in-depth description of the seven Chakras is listed below.
 

♥ What is the function of Chakras?
Physical:
Each Chakra is associated with a particular part of the body and gland.  When the chakras are balanced and energy is flowing freely, a sense of physical well-being is achieved.

Mental:
When the physical body is in a state of well being, the mind is at ease.  When chakras are balanced and energy is flowing freely, a state of mental clarity is attained.

Spiritual:
When the chakras are balanced and energy is flowing freely, our energetic vibrational rate rises, allowing us to experience more of our true divine nature and connection with the sea of Universal Life energy that permeates all things.


♥ What is the cause of blocked Chakras?
Chakras can become blocked through an emotional upset, such as conflict, loss, or accident.  Fear, anxiety and stress are common causes of chakra malfunction.  When blocks accumulate in the field, a disruption in the flow of energy through the Chakras result.  It is these blocks that disrupt the Harmony in the field and eventually are the cause of disease, as well as, emotional and mental disorders in the physical body. 


♥ How do the Chakras get back in balance?
A healing art called Reiki, is a beautiful, loving way to balance the chakras.  It is a non-manipulative technique used to channel healing energy to the client through the practitioner's hands.  Using certain touch points on or off the body, the field is cleared of blocks, the chakras are restructured and a new level of awareness is reached.

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The seven major Chakra points are as follows:

1. BASE (or Root Chakra)
Color: Red
Gemstones to strengthen:

garnet, ruby, bloodstone, red jasper or agate
Gemstones to tone down:

smoky quartz, black tourmaline, onyx, obsidian stones, or emeralds

This center is located at the base of the spine.  It's the Chakra closest to the earth and represents earthly grounding.   Fear is felt in this Chakra and it controls your sense of survival, or your fight or flight response.  Physically, it influences the suprarenal glands as well as the legs, feet, kidneys, bladder, and spine. When this chakra is weak, you may feel very tired, overly cautious, afraid of change, needing someone to light a fire under you, and feeling cold from poor circulation. When it is over energized, you may feel aggressive, oversexed, reckless, too impulsive or belligerent. 

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2. SACRAL (or Spleen Chakra)

Color: orange
Gemstones to strengthen:

carnelian, orange coral, orange agate or jasper
Gemstones to tone down:

sodalite, blue lace agate, blue fluorite

This chakra is located on the spine in the lower abdomen, between the naval and the base of the spine.  It is associated with sexuality, creativity, emotions, desire, and the ability to sense things on a psychic level. Physically, it is linked to the reproductive system and the gonads (endocrine gland).  If this chakra is weak, you may feel unresponsive sexually and emotionally, anti-social, unoriginal, repressed.  Overactive can make one feel lustful, selfish, arrogant, and overburdened by too many vibes & impressions received from others.

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3. SOLAR PLEXUS

Color: yellow
Gemstones to strengthen:

citrine, golden topaz, amber, sunstone, golden beryl
Gemstones to tone down:

amethyst, light purple fluorite, emerald, sapphire

Located at the spine just above the naval, this chakra is associated with the intellect and thinking process, our personal power, anger, strength and ability to take action.  Your sensitivity is stored here.  It is the seat of your emotional living.  This is an important psychic center, and where we experience “gut feelings” about someone or something.  It is where emotional baggage gets stored.  Physically it is linked to the digestive system (pancreas, stomach, liver, and gall bladder).  It helps the body assimilate nutrients.  A weak solar plexus chakra can mean a mental slump, lethargy, feeling isolated, feeling overcautious.  Overactive, it can cause nervousness, mental bullying or unrest, digestion problems, mental overload, and a general feeling of disharmony.

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4. HEART

Color: green
Gemstones to strengthen:

malachite, aventurine, jade, watermelon or green tourmaline 
Gemstones to tone down:

rose quartz, pink tourmaline, rhodochrosite

Located on the spine, in the area of the heart.  This chakra is associated with our ability to give and receive love, to feel compassion, to reach out to others.  The Asians say that this is the house of the soul as it deals with issues of the soul.  It is the center of the chakras, and can balance the activities of the seven energy centers.  Physically it is linked to the heart, lower lung area, circulatory system, the Thymus gland, and immune system.  An important chakra for healing.  When too weak, you may feel closed to others, low self-esteem, insecurity, jealousy, feeling unloved, "poor me" syndrome, and self-doubting.  Overactive, you may experience the "martyr" syndrome, giving too much of oneself, overconfident, jealousy and stinginess.

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5. THROAT

Color: blue
Gemstones to strengthen:

turquoise, blue lace agate, aquamarine, celestite, blue topaz, lapis lazuli
Gemstones to tone down:

carnelian, orange coral, orange agate or jasper

This chakra is located on the spine in the throat area, and is associated with our communication/expression abilities, right side of brain, speech, hearing. Physically it is linked to the throat, vocal cords, esophagus, mouth, teeth, thyroid and parathyroid glands, and upper lungs.  When weak, this may cause communication problems, an inability to express your feelings and ideas, withheld words, surrender to others.  An overactive throat chakra may result in negative speaking, criticizing, domineering words, hyperactive attitude, over-reacting, and stubborn beliefs.

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6. THIRD EYE (or Brow Chakra)

Color: indigo or purple-blue
Gemstones to strengthen:

azurite, lapis lazuli, moonstone, star sapphire, blue sapphire
Gemstones to tone down:

yellow-orange citrine, yellowish tiger-eye

This chakra is located mid forehead, just above the eyes, and on the center of your forehead.  This Chakra is used to question the spiritual nature of our life.  Our inner vision is contained here, inner dreams gifts of clairvoyance, wisdom and perception. The dreams of our life are held in this Chakra.  In order for this chakra to work at its best, the heart chakra must be strong and balanced.  Physically, this chakra is linked to the nervous system, lower brain, left eye, ears, nose, and the pituitary gland.  When weak, this center may cause self-doubt, forgetfulness, an inability to trust your instincts, headaches.  If overactive, you may be oversensitive, spaced out, and experiencing psychic overload.

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7. CROWN

Color: violet or white
Gemstones to strengthen:

clear quartz, amethyst, purple fluorite, sugilite, sapphire
Gemstones to tone down:

light citrine, golden topaz, light amber

This chakra is located at the top of the head, slightly to the back. It is associated with our feeling of "oneness" with the Universe, our spiritual wisdom, a final understanding, an alignment with our true inner spirit within.   Physically, this chakra is linked to the pineal gland, the upper brain, and right eye.  This Chakra is said to be your own place of connection to God/Christ/Buddha.  A weak crown chakra can cause a feeling of disconnection with the vital flow of life, uninspired, feeling misunderstood and practicing self-denial. Overactive, this may cause a disconnection with the earthly plane, being impractical, not connected with reality, over imaginative. 

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