Chakra Healing: What It's All About and How To Begin
A basic introduction to an ancient way of healing by Tiffany Jones.
Most of us have heard of chakras - whether in healing sessions, yoga classes or discussions about eastern health practises. So what exactly are they and how can we work with them to enhance our wellbeing?
THE SEVEN ENERGY CENTRES
Basically, chakras are energy centres in the body. There are seven of them located at the crown of your head, your third eye/brow, your throat, your heart, your navel, your genitals and at the base of your spine.
They are the central points through which our life force is distributed. This includes the distribution of physical energies and substances such as food/waste, sexual energies, nutrients, blood, breath and electrical currents. But it also includes spiritual energies - emotions, thought, dreams, perceptions, our own soul and our connection to the universal forces.
Just as in a rainbow where red represents the shortest light wave and violet represents the longest, the chakras (which are represented by the 7 colours of the rainbow) conduct energies from the most physical, to the most spiritual.
When in balance, the chakras represent a harmony between our body, mind and spirit. But if any of the chakras become blocked, or are seen as overactive or inactive the imbalance is felt on all levels.
DETECTING AN IMBALANCE
Fortunately, it is possible to detect these imbalances, and correct them using various remedies. It can be as simple as taking a good hard look at your life and seeing which areas are causing you the most concern for example, if you feel unable to speak up for yourself, if you find yourself being dishonest or unable to laugh, cry or express yourself in life, it is likely you have a blockage in your throat chakra. This could evolve physically into a sore/tight throat, a stutter, or even problems with the thyroid or lungs.
Problems with the sexual chakra can result in an inability to embrace your sexuality, feelings of guilt or fear, judgement of other peoples sexualities, or sexual addictions and extreme jealousy. Physically this can evolve into inflammations, impotency, fertility problems, or susceptibility to infections in the sexual organ.
Sometimes finding a solution to such a problem can be as simple as acknowledging the blockage, mentally preparing yourself to fix it, and then actively working on balancing this energy flow within your life. Have you ever noticed how, for example, speaking up to a boss (or bossy friend) can make that throat ache go away?
However, if the imbalance runs deeper than this, it can be helpful to meditate on visualising the blockage leaving your system, or perhaps even enlisting some professional help (therapists, healers, naturopaths or eastern doctors) to assist you.
FIRST CHAKRA BASE/ ROOT (Muladhara).
Located: At the base of your spine.
Colour: Red.
Energies: Your central link to the physical world and physical energies. Literally, this is where your waste/dirt (your most earthly substance) flows from, and where you sit down onto the earth. Your material body and possessions, your connection to the land/ your home, your basic needs and welfare, how grounded and safe/secure you are. An imbalance includes fear for your safety/ survival, a feeling of material lack or excess greed, and physical problems with the lower body, legs, colon, intestines, bones, arms.
Aides: Oils such as cedar and marjoram can be used in massage or aromatherapy, crystals such as garnet, hematite and ruby can be grounding.
SECOND CHAKRA SEX CHAKRA (Svadisthana)
Located: Lower abdomen/ genitals.
Colour: Orange
Energies: Your central link to the sexual world/energies, kundalini, and your ability to give and receive pleasure and joy. Your self-acceptance and ability to be open, receptive, flexible and yet confident of your worth. An imbalance might form as sexual frigidity or excessive addiction, sexual health issues and problems in the sex organs, jealousy, possessiveness, homophobia or other fear issues, rigidness, lack of joy.
Aides: Ylang Ylang or Petitgrain oils can be used as aphrodisiacs, moonstone for fertility and feminine sexuality issues, carnelian for balancing, fire opal and coral.
THIRD CHAKRA NAVEL CHAKRA (Manipura)
Located: Navel/ Solar Plexus.
Colour: Yellow
Energies: This is seen as your centre, your centre of gravity, your link to human life (initially through the placenta as a baby). It is also the centre of your will/ personal power, and as such it is related to how forceful or weak stomached you are in asserting your wants and needs in relation to the groups. An imbalance is marked by nervousness -physical butterflies in the stomach which can lead to stomach illnesses/vomiting/ nausea. In excess these energies lead to anger, aggressiveness, hatred.
Aides: Citrine, amber and tigers eye crystals can be useful in restoring this chakra, and lemon/citrus oils and foods, deep breathing and core strengthening exercises will assist.
FOURTH CHAKRA HEART CHAKRA (Anahata)
Located: Upper Chest.
Colour: Green
Energies: Just as the heart is the central distribution point for our blood, it is also the core for our emotional energies. This link is seen in how phrases like hot blooded or cold blooded describe emotionally intense or distant people. The focus is our ability to love freely and compassionately, and this is the link between both the physical and spiritual chakras - as love is both physical and spiritual. Blockages/wounds are seen in heart/chest problems, back/rib cage problems, stooped posture, depression, loneliness, emptiness.
Aides: Jade, tourmaline and rose quartz are important crystals, and rose and geranium oils can be helpful. Gifts of roses and full chest- to-chest hugs are restorative.
FIFTH CHAKRA THROAT CHAKRA (Visuddha)
Located: Throat/ above collarbone.
Colour: Blue
Energies: Seen as the centre for communication, expression, and for this reason our intellectual self (our ability to interact verbally and wisely), and all sounds of expression such as laughter, singing, yelling and other types of voice. Blockages and lack are seen in a literal inability to express ones self verbally or otherwise - stutters, throat and breathing problems, asthma, anorexia or over-eating, thyroid or lung issues. Being too forceful in expression, or too harsh or blunt in honesty is a sign of excess energy.
Aides: A lapis lazuli necklace is a powerful tool here, or a turquoise/aquamarine amulet. Lavender massage or essential oil, sandalwood incense to clear the air.
SIXTH CHAKRA THIRD EYE CHAKRA (Ajna)
Located: Between eyes/ brow.
Colour: Indigo
Energies: Your link to your intuition/ your spiritual world and power, the psychic world, dreams, the higher planes of existence. An imbalance is marked by an inability to connect with spirituality or disrespect for other faiths, being too immersed in material matters, a fear of death, obsessive compulsiveness, superstition, religious fanaticism. A lack of intuition or ability to accurately judge people/ situations or to trust your own hunches, an inability to dream or incessant frightening dreams are all signs.
Aides: Lapis, purple flourite, clear quartz crystals are helpful. Mugwort tea will promote dreams, regular meditation and deep breathing, yoga, jasmine and patchouli oils/incense.
SEVENTH CHAKRA CROWN CHAKRA (Sahasrara)
Located: At the crown/top of the head.
Colour: Violet
Energies: This is your connection to the greater spiritual force, the universe, whatever universal force, god/goddess or consciousness itself you believe in. The main thing to remember is that whatever it is called, it is universal and accessible to all, and is what links all individuals together. A dissatisfaction with life, being ego-centric, feeling disconnected from spirituality/ the world/ others, feeling lost or unfocussed, depression, severe competitiveness, recurring headaches, tensions, illness are signs of imbalance.
Aides: Lotus or frankincense oils, meditation, regular sessions of yoga/ tai chi or similar arts, music, getting out in nature, zen therapy, Amethyst or diamond crystals.
