Jul 5, 2023
What are Your Chakras and Why do They Need to be Balanced?
The term “chakra” in Sanskrit means “wheel” and is a common phrase in Ayurveda, yoga and other traditional holistic medicine practices. The concept of chakras first appears in the oldest text called the Vedas around 1500 and 500 BC in India, although some Indian scholars believe the system can be traced back even further.
The chakras are described psychic centers of consciousness in the Yoga Upanishads (circa 600B.C.) and again in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (circa 200 B.C.).
The Chakra is an energetic center that our energy flows through, that should stay “open” and aligned for optimal emotional and physical well-being. If energy becomes blocked in one of the chakras, it triggers physical, mental, or emotional imbalance.
There are 7 chakras that run from the base of your spine to just above the top of your head.
What are the Chakras Called?
- Root Chakra: Muladhara – means root and support.
- Sacral Chakra: Svadhisthana – means the dwelling place of the self.
- Solar Plexus Chakra: Manipura – means city of jewels.
- Heart Chakra: Anahata – means unhurt, unstruck, and unbeaten.
- Throat Chakra: Vishuddha – means pure or purification.
- Third Eye Chakra: Ajna – means foremost.
- Crown Chakra: Sahasrara – means thousand-petaled
The Root Chakra
Sanskrit translation: Muladhara
Color: Red
Location: At the bottom of the tailbone—in the perineum for men and the cervical area for women.
This chakra grounds you! And connects your physical energy with the earth.
Emotional issues are linked with this chakra and survival issues such as, money, food, family, security, and financial independence.
Your root chakra is linked to everything you need to survive, including breathing, eating, sleeping, and experiencing physical security.
When this chakra is balanced, you will feel a deep sense of peace. You’ll feel safe in the knowledge that all your core needs are met. Because of this, all total body healing starts here.
The Sacral Chakra
Sanskrit translation: Svadhisthana
Color: Orange
Location: About three inches below the navel, at the center of your lower belly. In the back, it’s located at the level of the lumbar vertebrae.
This chakra is associated with the emotional body, sensuality, and creativity. It is responsible for the storage and distribution of Vyana prana, and for maintaining the water element in the body. It is associated with the bladder, kidneys, and reproductive organs.
The sacral chakra is associated with the realm of emotions. It’s the center of our feelings and sensations. It’s particularly active in our sexuality and the expression of our sensual and sexual desires.
When this chakra is balanced your interactions with the world and other people will be nurturing, pleasure and harmonious exchange. An imbalance in this chakra can result in co-dependency in other people or substances that bring pleasure. Over indulgence, sexual fantasies or on the flipside feelings of numbness and of being stuck. It may also result in a lack of sexual desire.
The Solar Plexus Chakra
Sanskrit translation: Manipura
Color: Yellow
The corresponding element is fire therefore it is also known as the Fire or Sun Centre.
Location: Between the navel and the base of the sternum, a couple of fingers above the belly button. Together with the first (the root) and second chakra (the sacral) these energy centers are often referred to as the lower triangle.
The solar plexus chakra connects to your digestive system, gall bladder, pancreas, adrenals, and liver. It is also associated with your metabolism.
This chakra is about being able to deal with things, it’s how you digest your life and get things done! It is associated with clarity, self-confidence, bliss, self-assurance, knowledge, happiness, and wisdom. The negative emotions associated with this chakra are aggression, depression, and anger.
When the solar plexus chakra is blocked or imbalanced, it can manifest as various physical and emotional issues. It can also cause physical symptoms such as digestive issues, indigestion, ulcers, eating disorders, excessive weight gain, diabetes, and heartburn to name a few.
A blocked or imbalanced solar plexus chakra can manifest as emotional issues such as doubts, mistrust of others, over analysis, lack of confidence, feeling victimized, low self-esteem, and difficulties setting boundaries to name just a few!
The Heart Chakra
Sanskrit translation: Anahata
Color: Green
Location: In the dorsal region of the spine near the physical heart in the center of the chest. The chakra is also known as the dorsal center.
The heart chakra is connected to the heart, lungs, arms, hands, and the thymus gland, regulating the flow of energy in this area of the body.
This chakra is associated with our overall well-being, it helps you to balance your emotions, encourages a deeper sense of self-awareness, and helps you build meaningful relationships with others.
The Heart Chakra is associated with the primary emotions of unconditional love and attachment. When this energy center is in balance, we experience unconditional love in its purest form. It is associated with kindness and compassion for yourself and others and promotes the sense of ‘we’ instead of only ‘I’. You will have a general sense of belonging and trust your heart as an inner compass.
An imbalance in this chakra can result in unhealthy attachments or detachment. It can manifest as loneliness and as if you don’t belong or fit in. It can cause cold-heartedness towards yourself and/or others. On the flipside it may result in an overactive people-pleasing attitude, willing to do anything for anyone for some attention or approval.
The Throat Chakra
Sanskrit translation: Vishuddha
Color: Blue
Location: The Larynx, throat, and neck which also physically look like a bottleneck between the head and the lower body. Making this the gateway and translator between the spiritual/unmanifest and physical/manifest aspects of our being.
The throat chakra Vishuddha bridges the heart and the mind. It is associated with the mouth, jaws, tongue, pharynx, palate, shoulders, and neck.
This chakra is related to the element of sound, communication, and expression. This chakra has a natural connection with the sacral chakra, center of emotions and creativity as well.
The Throat chakra is associated with expressing yourself, especially your own truths, speaking out and about communication both verbal and non-verbal. It is also connected with good time keeping, realizing your potential, vocation, and projecting your ideas.
The Throat Chakra is the first of the three higher, more spiritual chakras, and connects you with etheric realm, the more subtle realms of spirit and intuitive abilities. The etheric body holds the blueprint or perfect template of the other dimensions of the body.
An imbalanced throat chakra can manifest as deep frustrations, not speaking out, or living your own truths, hiding your true self. There can be a feeling of inhibition or the fear to express yourself, things can come out confused.
The Third Eye Chakra
Sanskrit translation: Ajna
Color: Indigo
Location: In the center of your forehead between your eyebrows.
The third eye chakra corresponds with the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the pineal gland, as well as the eyes, ears, and the nose.
A good way to describe this chakra is that your physical eyes see the past and the present, while the third eye brings insight into the future. Through the third eye you can connect your inner and outer worlds through your visions.
A well balanced third eye brings peace, increased self-awareness, innovation, greater perception, and insightfulness and allows you to receive guidance from your higher self and spiritual realm.
It brings mental clarity and focus, makes you more alert, aware, and able to concentrate on tasks, ideas, and thoughts.
An imbalanced third eye chakra can make it hard to concentrate, cause a lack of clarity or focus on your thoughts and actions. It can cause depression, anxiety, and mood swings. And make you feel disconnected from your intuition and create a mistrust in your own gut feelings.
The Crown Chakra
Sanskrit translation: Sahasrara
Color: Violet
Location: At the top of the head, or slightly above – like a crown, radiating upward.
The Crown chakra’s link to spirituality and enlightenment. It is the top of the chakra ladder and is said to be the point where our spirits enter our bodies at birth and the portal that we leave through when we die.
The Crown chakra doesn’t have any corresponding organs or body parts as it’s considered more part of our subtle body or energy body than our physical selves.
It is associated with devotion, inspiration, prophetic thought, mystical connections, and transcendental ideas.
When your crown chakra is balanced, you'll feel as if everything is connected, and able to look beyond yourself and act selflessly.
An imbalanced sahasrara can lead to spiritual issues and even physical health troubles. It can cause depression, fatigue, and migraines. It can leave you feeling disconnected and uncertain of your purpose in life. to life. On the flipside you may suffer from boredom and elitism, or more physical issues like sensitivity to light or neurological disorders.
An imbalance of the crown chakra can also lead to more serious problems, like mental illness or sleep disorders.
Share this article with friends!
Tags:
#crownchakra #chakra #Sahasrara #spiritual #enlightenment #thirdeye #thirdeyechakra #Ajna #Sanskrit #devotion #inspiration #intuition #higher-self #spiritualrealm #Vishuddha #throatchakra #ethericrealm #etheric #Anahata #heartchakra #solarplexuschakra #solarplexus #Manipura #Vyana prana #sacralchakra #sacral #Svadhisthana #Muladhara #rootchakra #energeticcenter #yoga #starzpsychhics
