Many belief systems including Hindu and Tantric Yoga refer to ‘Chakras’ as functioning points in the body that impact upon our physical and spiritual wellbeing. But what are Chakras? What are the effects, locations and types of Chakras?
By Carolyne Gowen, Deepak Chopra trained meditation teacher at Still Your Mind
What are Chakras?
Chakra is a Sanskrit word and means spinning wheel or circle. Chakras are the major centres of spiritual power in the human body and are spinning discs of energy which balance, store and distribute the energies of life through the physical body along the subtle body. The subtle body is the non-physical body, otherwise known as our soul or spirit, which overlays our physical body. A chakra is the same size as joining your middle finger and thumb together.
On a deeper level, chakras are mini Mer-Ka-Ba’s and rotate in opposite directions to each other at a ratio of 34/21. A Mer-Ka-Ba is our human light body and is 16-18 metres wide.
How do they effect our physical wellbeing?
Chakras effect our physical wellbeing as they are the transfer points for our thoughts and feelings and the physical functioning of specific endocrine glands (please see further information below).
A ‘blocked’ is nothing more than a chakra that is not spinning in the proper ratios and has expanded beyond its normal size. A normal chakra is approximately 5cm in diameter. When a person is crying or is emotional, there upper heart chakra has usually expanded to about 0.60 metres or more.
Where are Chakras located?
Chakras are located in an invisible breathing tube, the prana tube, that moves up the spine and into the head and above the head about one hands length.
The location of the seven main chakras are:
· The Base Chakra is the perineum – the flat piece of skin between the vagina and anus for women, and the scrotum and anus for men.
· The Sacral Chakra is just above the pubic bone
· The Solar Plexus is just above the belly button
· The Heart Chakra is between your breasts/ chest
· The Throat Chakra is in the centre of your throat
· The Third Eye is in the centre of your forehead (not inbetween your eyes)
The Crown Chakra is on the top of your head where the fontanelle is located in new born babies
Each of the 7 Chakras and how they relate to our physical and spiritual wellbeing
- The Base Chakra is related to the material world, physical needs and basic survival. It connects us to the earth and grounds us in our activities. Aggression is stored here. The Base Chakra is red and connected to the adrenal glands.
- The Sacral Chakra is related to sexuality, nurturing, physical desire, movement, change, creative energy, family ties and social behaviour patterns. The Sacral Chakra is orange and connected to the gonads.
- The Solar Plexus is related to ego, personality, self confidence, self esteem and self respect. Personal power, love, attachment, dependency, trust, fear, intimidation, hurt, rejection and criticism are stored here. The Solar Plexus is yellow and connected to the pancreas.
- The Heart Chakra is related to love, forgiveness, compassion, unconditional love, true self acceptance and humility. The Heart Chakra is green and is connected to the thymus.
- The Throat Chakra is related to will, self-expression, creativity, individuality and productivity. Can be difficulties in communication. The Throat Chakra is blue and is connected to the thyroid.
- The Third Eye is related to the mind, intuition, insight, wisdom, will purpose and self control. It is phsyic and has connections with the higher functions of consciousness. It allows you to ‘see within’. The Third Eye is indigo and is related to the pituitary chakra.
- The Crown Chakra is related to spirituality, enlightenment, self realisation, fulfilment of the divine self and higher states of consciousness. The Crown Chakra is violet and related to the pineal chakra.
In most books and articles, it only refers to the 7 main chakras. However, there are actually 13 chakras that are located on the prana tube running through the centre of your body. They are:
- Base
- Sacral
- Will Power (just below the belly button)
- Solar Plexus
- Lower Heart – connected to the heart and is pure unconditional love
- Upper Heart – connected to the brain and is conditional love
- Throat
- Chin
- Nose
- 45 degree (unicorn beam)
- Crown
- Return Chakra which is one hands length above the crown chakra. It is the top chakra for our current chakra system and the base chakra for the next chakra system.
