A Beginner’s Introduction to the 7 Chakras.

Introduction

Today, modern life is burdened by stress, toxicity, and negative media consumption. Unlike a treatable disease, these modern problems cannot be fixed overnight. The chakra system is one of the ancient techniques to realign our mind-body-spirit through simple everyday practices. It focuses on using the inbuilt energy centers for our spiritual, physical, and mental healing.

Read on to find a gamut of possibilities for enlightening yourself with the knowledge of seven chakras. Knowing about the seven main chakras will help you to align your physical self with your mental and emotional self, ensure your complete well-being and improve your quality of life through simple techniques like chakra meditation for free-flowing positive energy.

7 Chakras Meaning and Where Are They Housed?

Chakra in Sanskrit means a wheel or a cycle. Our very life force or Prana flows through these Chakras. Our body has 100+ lower chakras and upper chakras in all, out of which seven chakras are predominant. These seven chakras start from the base of the spine and go upward till the crown, and are responsible not only for our physical, mental & emotional well-being but also for personal power and spiritual energy. The seven main chakras are as follows.

1. Root Chakra – located at the end of the spine, near the tailbone

2. Sacral Chakra – located in the lower abdomen, near the navel

3. Solar Plexus Chakra – located in the upper abdomen. Near the sternum -known as the navel chakra.

4. Heart Chakra – located in the chest, above the heart

5. Throat Chakra – located at the center of the throat

6. Third Eye Chakra – located on the forehead, between the eyes

7. Crown Chakra – located at the top of the head, at the center of the scalp also known as the seventh chakra.

Although each of the chakras corresponds to a specific part of the human body, it is believed that these chakras exist in our Astral body and therefore are intangible main energy centers of the human body; they are more like a concentration of energies. According to the yogic philosophy, humans have three bodies – physical, astral, and causal which together hold our soul. The astral body is a counterpart of the physical body. It is the astral body that carries the awareness of Prana (divine energy) and Chakras. Our Prana must flow freely through these seven chakras.

What Happens When The 7 Chakras Are Out of Their Element?

The seven Chakras are our energy centers, fueling our very being. The energy flow between these circles should be free-flowing. We must strive towards the optimum functioning of these chakras by facilitating the hindrance-free circulation of Parana( i.e. energy flowing amongst several key energy centers located in our body)

When there is free-flowing positive energy, the chakras spin like wheels – keeping our whole being regulated and healthy through chakra balancing. When the seven chakras are blocked, the flow of energy is restricted and this slow and sluggish flow of energy poses a problem. The hindered energy gives way to physical ailments, mental ill-being, emotional imbalance, and spiritual vacuum.

Now there are a plethora of healing techniques that you might want to try to unblock the chakras for energy flow and regain the harmony between your body, mind, and soul. Every method is profound and has its benefits and way of practice; you may use the one that aligns best with your persona and your belief system. The question that now arises is:

How Do I Know If Any of My 7 Chakras Are Blocked?

If you have been feeling low – mentally and physically, you might want to check if one or two or more or all of your seven chakras are blocked. The prominent indication of your chakras being blocked is you feeling low all the time; when you don’t feel like yourself or are feeling sickly all through the day. Negative thoughts, sadness, anxiety, low energy, low sex drive, feeling exhausted all the time, mental fog, zero to a low inclination to do anything fun, giving up on your hobbies, losing passion, and being disinterested in things you loved to do previously – are all signs of blocked chakras. Your heart feels heavy and your headlight and foggy; when you feel the world is coming to an end and your life is filled with stagnancy and your day seems a long tiresome drudgery – are all indicators of blocked chakras. A definitive way to end this misery is to restore the balance of your chakras.

Every chakra has a corresponding color, element, gemstone, or yoga pose that can restore its balance. When a chakra is surrounded by and exposed to its affiliates, it functions in an optimum manner, stays on top of its game, and makes available the best it has to offer.

Just like every chakra has conforming articles, chants, and procedures, it also has a series of indications and symptoms that denote the fact that the chakra is blocked.

Every chakra tells a tale – a happy, effervescent one if it is operating in the best form, and a rather glum one if it is blocked and needs work. Let’s see what signs the chakras present when they are blocked.

All about the Blocked Chakras and How to Unblock them

1. Root Chakra (Muladhara Chakra)

Root Chakra is the foundation of yourself. The first chakra is the house of a sense of stability and here is the beginning of all kinds of balance located at the base of our spinal cord. It represents our basic physical need for food, clothing, and shelter and our imminent emotional need of feeling safe and interconnected.

Color: Red

Element: Earth

Stone: Hematite

Gland: Adrenal

Yoga Pose:

Warrior 1, Mountain Pose, Tree Pose Garland Pose, Lotus flower Pose, Child’s Pose.

Affirmations: I am safe & secure. I belong. I am supported and anchored.

What it Represents: Finance, Safety & Security Family Life, Origins, etc.

Signs of blocked root chakra:

• Colon and Kidney issues
• Lethargy
• Lower Back Pain
• Feet and Leg Issues
• Issues in the Pelvic Region
• Unexplained Aches in the Body |
• Prostate & Reproductive organ issues in Males
• Increased Stress
• Anxiety & Fear
• Insomnia
• Low Self-esteem

How to Unblock the Root Chakra:

To unblock the Muladhara Chakra, you have to practice activities that take you closer to the roots. Perform the above-mentioned Yoga Poses every day. Spend time in nature – walk barefoot on grass or in the sand, go hiking in the mountains, lie on the grass to read, or sit in silence on the rocks. Wear more red clothes, wear a hematite. Eat natural foods instead of those manufactured by plants. Meditate regularly. Do body scanning meditation. Practice alternate nostril breathing every day. Try visualization techniques wherein you imagine roots growing from your feet anchoring you to the ground below or a white light entering from the base of your spine and entering your body. You may rub a few drops of essential oils of ginger or sandalwood or cedarwood or eucalyptus on your feet, tailbone, and wrists. They will make you feel instantly grounded. You may also rub a metal spoon on your feet because metal has grounding properties. You may also try Root Chakra Affirmations.

2. Sacral Chakra(Second Chakra)

Sacral Chakra is the energy center of your creativity and self-expression. It denotes your ingenuity and imagination. It affects your sensitivity, sexual energy, passions, and emotions. Your quality of relationships and your degree of intimacy highly depend on the sacral chakra.

Color: Orange

Element: Water

Stone: Tiger’s Eye

Gland: Gonads

Yoga Pose: Bound Angle Pose, Camel Pose, Lizard Pose, Pigeon Pose, Goddess Pose, Cobra Pose, Bow Pose, etc.

Affirmations: I am kind & giving, I am loved, and I forgive myself.

What it Represents: Emotions, Relationships, Creativity, Self-confidence, etc.

Signs of blocked sacral chakra:

• Stiff hips and lower back
• Pelvic Pain
• Sexual & Reproductive Issues
• Kidney Issues
• Kidney issues
• Issues with the lymphatic system and circulatory system
• Excessive Mood Swings
• Feeling Overwhelmed
• Emotional Instability
• Lacking Creativity
• Loss of Imagination     

Sacral Chakra Symbol- To purify svadhisthana, the six petals of the sacral chakra lotus represent the traits of wrath, envy, cruelty, hatred, pride, and desire that must be conquered. A continuous cycle of birth, death, and pure consciousness.

How to Unblock the Sacral Chakra:

The foremost step that you need to take to balance the Sacral Chakra is to connect with yourself. Try self-healing modalities like Reiki, Body-scan, Meditation, Aromatherapy, or Massage. This may be followed by connecting with Water – swimming in a sea or a river, taking, long relaxing baths…preferably with orange essential oils and/or orange-scented candles.

Hydrotherapy works as well – have sufficient amounts of water throughout the day. Chant the affirmations while sipping water. Consume more orange-hued foods- orange, sweet potato, butternut squash, melons, and mangoes.

Most importantly – get creative. Find anything that makes you do a physical activity such as paint, draw, cook, or dance – anything that lets your positive emotions flow. Do hip-opening poses and exercises in the morning and at bedtime.

3. Solar Plexus Chakra(Third chakra)

This chakra, often known as the manipura chakra defines our relationship with the Self. When the solar plexus chakra is blocked, we feel powerless and out of control. Our self-worth stems from this chakra. How we view ourselves – whether our confidence is at its peak or down below – is largely dependent on this chakra. If the manipura chakra is blocked, you will be hesitant to make decisions, will be a procrastinator, and will lose out on opportunities. When this chakra is balanced, self-compassion & worthiness flow freely.

Color: Yellow

Element: Fire

Stone: Amber

Gland: Adrenal

Yoga Pose: Boat Pose | Seated Spinal Twist | Seated Forward Fold | Chair Pose

Warrior 3 Pose

Affirmations: I am confident and worthy. | I am in control. | I love myself as I am.

What it Represents: Power | Self

Signs of Imbalance:

• Digestive Problems
• Chronic Fatigue
• Gallbladder & Pancreas
• Excessive self-criticism
• Low in Confidence or Over-confident
• No free will & Assertiveness
• Lack of growth in Career or Business
• Fear of Rejection
• Complexes about Self-appearance

  Solar plexus chakra symbol- A red triangle of fire appears in the center of the symbol for the solar plexus chakra. Tejas, or tattva, is a representation of strength, power, and sharpness.
  

  

  Finding Sunshine in the Depth of Winter
  

  Are you searching for the sunshine? Or that ray of hope? Then this is exactly what you need to hear right now.

  lifeism.co

How to Unblock the Solar Plexus Chakra:

To unblock your solar Plexus Chakra, start by loving and accepting yourself unconditionally. If that doesn’t come naturally to you, start affirmations and journaling. Look at yourself in the mirror while chanting affirmations. You may consider meditating on a candle flame and meditating under the sun to kindle the fire element within you. Eat easily digestible foods. Wear yellow often. You may even consider painting the walls of your room, yellow. Perform yoga poses and exercises that strengthen spiritual health.

4. Heart Chakra (Anahata Chakra)

The chakras are all in a linear line from the root to the crown and the heart chakra is right in the center of all the chakras. Anahata Chakra (Sanskrit word) corresponds to the purest, most selfless of emotions – love. It Heart Chakra regulates our ability to love and to be loved. We form connections and relationships based on our energies regulated by heart chakra. Our responses and actions full of kindness, love, and compassion are elicited from this chakra. If this chakra is blocked, then our capacity for forgiveness, philanthropy, magnanimity, generosity and the simple equation of understanding and empathy in close relationships is affected.

Color: Green

Element: Air

Stone: Rose Quartz

Gland: Thymus

Yoga Pose: Camel Pose | Wheel Pose | Reverse Plank | Upward-facing Dog | Locust Pose

Affirmations: I am loved. I am capable of loving. I am kind. My heart is a big source of love – for myself & others. I forgive easily, love courageously, and accept unconditionally.

What it Represents: Ability to love and be loved. Relationships and Humanity.

Signs of Imbalance:

• Compromised Immune System
• Issues with heart Health
• Insomnia
• Depression & Anxiety
• Pain in Upper Back & Chest
• Tight Neck & Shoulders
• Restlessness
• Unease & Irritability
• Grief & Loneliness
• Feeling Unloved and Unlovable
• Unable to Set Boundaries

  Heart chakra symbol-Our love for ourselves and others, compassion, empathy, and forgiveness are located in the fourth main chakra. The anahata chakra is linked to joy, compassion, spiritual health, and unrestricted love.

How to Unblock the Heart Chakra:

Unblocking the heart chakra requires you to first love yourself – by treating your body and mind right that same energy moves to improve the heart chakra as an energy center. Begin by eating right, especially, green vegetables – cruciferous and leafy. Include green superfoods in your diet such as spirulina, chlorophyll, green tea, and matcha tea.

the second step is to be mindful – always aware of your feelings. Acknowledge and respect your feelings, accept them, and then deal with them. Don’t be harsh on yourself. Thirdly, show yourself some kindness. Gift yourself small acts of love – a spa day, a foot massage, reading your favorite book with a cup of tea, Mandala painting, listening to music – anything that makes you happy and relaxed.

Fourth, trust yourself. Believe in the magic of love. Do journaling, and meditation, practice restorative yoga poses, and read affirmations to remember and restore your faith in love.

5. Throat Chakra(vishuddha chakra)

Throat Chakra gives us a voice. It helps us to express what is in our hearts. It enables our energy centers to express ourselves with clarity and truthfulness. Blocked vishudda chakra causes us to lose our voice – it renders the energy moving upwards but still makes us incapable of expressing ourselves and we feel tied by fear of consequences, lack of willpower, and a lack of choice of speaking out. Introversion, shyness, self-consciousness, or on the other extreme – excessive talking, interrupting, gossiping and the inability to listen to others are typical symptoms of the blocked throat chakra. Also known as vishuddha chakra.

Color: Light Blue/ Turquoise

Element: Sound/ Music

Stone: Aquamarine

Gland: Thyroid

Yoga Pose: Fish Pose | Lion Pose | Plow Pose | Shoulder Stand

Affirmations: I communicate clearly | I express freely | I listen to my intuition and speak up

What it Represents: Ability to Communicate. Free Will and Self-Expression

Signs of Imbalance:

• Thyroid issues
• Laryngitis
• Ear Infections
• Sore Throats
• Ulcers Facial Issues
• Jaw Pain
• Bruxism (Grinding of Teeth)
• Heavy Heart

  Throat chakra symbol-It stands for expression, growth, and communication. It is portrayed as a sixteen-petal lotus. A circle is encircled by a triangle with a downward-facing angle (representing quintessence).

How to Unblock the Throat Chakra:

Practice meditation to quieten your mind. Listen to music. Practice yoga poses. Try the visualization technique – close your eyes, and imagine a clear blue light entering your throat and filling you up with positive energy. Then, find the courage to speak up. Say affirmations every day. Begin by expressing yourself on paper – try journaling. Try your hand at public speaking - take a class or two, and find a space to meet people and talk to them. Have coffee dates with your friends and peers, join a hobby class – basically, don’t hold yourself back. Pick that phone, shoot that email, go over for a chat or a walk with a friend, and talk.

6. Third-Eye Chakra(Ajna chakra)

The third-eye chakra also known as ajna chakra imparts depth to our perspective; gives us the energy to see beyond the obvious. It enhances our intuitive capabilities and makes us wiser, sounder, and perceptible to the inconspicuous nuances. The third-eye chakra enables you to cut through the illusions and see the clear picture. A blocked third-eye chakra will prevent you from listening to your inner voice; it will cause you to distrust your gut feeling. It may also leave us highly suspicious of other people or leave us naïve to be overly trusting.

Color: Purple/ Indigo

Element: Light

Stone: Amethyst

Gland: Pituitary Gland

Yoga Pose: Eagle Pose, Child’s Pose, Shoulder Stand.

Affirmations: I am open to seeing the unseen. I trust my inner voice. I am the origin and receptacle of my truth

What it Represents: Intuition and Inner Wisdom

Signs of Imbalance: 

• Brain Fog
• Intense Imagination
• Vision Issues
• Sinus Issues
• Seizures
• Impaired hormone function
• Neurological Disorders
• Lack of intuition
• Exhaustion & Overwhelming Dizziness
• Depression |
• Anxiety
• Sleeplessness
• Headaches
  

  Third eye chakra symbol-The third eye chakra's two petals stand for the idea of a dualistic relationship between the Self and Divinity. The upside-down triangle stands for your union with the divine and complete enlightenment.
  

  

  Why We Should Embrace Change, Even When It's Uncomfortable
  

  When it comes knocking on our doors, we should embrace change. Here is what you can do about the discomforts that change brings with it and make the most of the opportunities instead.

  lifeism.co

How to Unblock the Third-eye Chakra:

The third-eye chakra is related to light. Meditating in sunlight or near a window which lets the light in, is very beneficial. Chanting and Breathwork such as alternate nostril breathing help in unblocking the ajna chakra. If you are not habituated to meditation, at least sit in silence and be still for some time every day. Eat purple or indigo-colored foods and wear the same-colored clothes often. Practice the Yoga Poses to unblock chakras. Use essential oils such as jasmine, sandalwood, and patchouli in your daily life. Resort to alternative healing modalities such as Reiki, Aromatherapy, and Sound Baths for chakra cleansing. These will help increase your focus and help you get in touch with your inner voice. Pay attention to your intuition – even if you do not decipher the signs earlier, you will after the event has occurred. Listen and honor these messages. Once you start noticing ‘the signs’, you will attune better to your instincts, heightening your inner voice.

7. Crown Chakra(Sahastrara chakra)

The crown chakra holds the highest place and potential in the body. Awakening the crown chakra rouses every cell in the body. This chakra relates your power to the divinity; it is your link to the higher consciousness or the life beyond. It is an entry point for the life force, it is a doorway to the cosmic world. The crown chakra makes us one with the universe. It keeps us connected to the whole world as well as the spiritual realm.

Color: Violet/ White

Element: Super Consciousness

Stone: Clear Quartz

Gland: Pineal Gland

Yoga Pose: Lotus flower petals Pose, Tree Pose, Headstand yoga postures, etc.

Affirmations: I am connected to the divine. I am one with cosmic consciousness. I am the receptacle of love and light.

What it Represents: Spiritual Quotient and Higher Consciousness

Signs of the blocked crown chakra-

1. Headaches
2. Inability to focus
3. No Purpose in Life
4. Constant Drama & Failures
5. Ample Dissatisfaction
6. Superficial & Meaningless Life
7. Disinterested in Life
8. Introvert & Isolated
9. Depression
10. Negative emotions
11. Mental Illnesses

    Crown chakra symbol-Thousand-petalled lotus: This symbolizes our union with the cosmos and connection to the divine. The lotus blossom represents wealth. The ring: The circle is a common symbol for infinite and cyclical nature because it is limitless, just like energy itself.
    

    

    13 Ways to Uncomplicate Your Life
    

    Life is not always a bed of roses, but it need not always be a bed of thorns either. Learn how you can simplify your life by making a few changes.

    lifeism.co

How to Unblock the Crown Chakra:

The most important thing to do to unblock your Crown Chakra is to keep your surroundings clean. Next, cleanse your chakra aura. You may either take help oh healers and experts or you may try it yourself by taking salt baths, listening to high-frequency music, chanting mantras, lighting scented candles or incense sticks, burning camphor or bay leaves to cleanse the air, and having air purifying plants in your surroundings. Next is to perform yoga postures(asana practice), deep breathing exercises, and self-massage with fragrant oils. Thirdly you must pray and meditate regularly. Find the power of human consciousness within. Call out to the higher power. Have faith in the process and believe in the guidance you receive. Be positive and focus on the divine qualities within.

Concluding the seven chakras

Along with this, it is imperative to live a wholesome life. Mind, body, and soul are all connected. To balance one, all must align. Thus, go holistic – eat well, sleep well, exercise well, behave well, and act well in addition to all the above remedies. Be full of love and positive self-expression. Be wise and salvation will follow.

So, this was all about the seven chakras. This is a very profound subject and there is no end to its exploration. This article, however, has thrown significant light on the subject and it is a good start if you are aiming to heal yourself by unblocking the seven chakras. It is best to start sequentially – bottom to top. Start with unblocking the base focal point root chakra and you are good to go.