An Introduction to the Chakras by John
Culbertson
Within the metaphysical world we have a term that is called
chakra. This is a term which was borrowed from the eastern part
of the world (mainly India, but also parts of Asia). This word,
which is Sanskrit, means spinning wheel. Thus, a chakra is a
spinning wheel of energy located within the human body.
Each chakra is responsible for various human functions. These
energy centers direct the energies of life and channel them
into different areas. When a chakra becomes dirty or blocked,
those energies have a harder time working. Ultimately, this
will lead to disease and illness.
Likewise, when we experience certain problems in our life, they
do affect certain chakras and can have the result of blocking
or closing them.
This article takes a brief look at the seven main chakras that
most people within the new age and metaphysical world need to
be familiar with.
ROOT CENTER
The root center is located at the base of the spine with the
entrance point for the energy being the vagina for a woman and
the perineum for a man. Its color, in the physical world, is
red. It is associated with the survival instinct. The fight or
flight reflex is connected to this center as is our sexual
desires when they are pure passion and animalistic in nature.
The root center helps to ground our energy into the physical
world and is primarily responsible for us being alive. A closed
root center can, and often times does, equate to death here in
the physical world.
When we have emotional issues in our lives that deal with our
need to survive, this center is likely blocked.
A blocked root center can cause problems to the prostate and
uterus, kidneys, bladder, and bowels. Also the lower backbone
and nerves can be affected.
Any type of physical exercise will help to clear and keep this
center open and functioning. Additionally, dancing, yoga,
massages, camping, gardening, and Tai Chi also help to clear
and keep this center open and functioning.
An exercise for opening this center involves taking a martial
arts horse stance and doing pelvic thrusts.
SACRAL CENTER
The sacral center is located about 2 inches below the belly
button. Its physical world color is orange. It is associated
with sex and sexuality from a loving perspective. It deals with
creativity and gut level intuition. It also has to do with the
pleasure principal, our general well being, and our abundance
in our life. It sometimes is associated with communication, but
this would be from a pleasure perspective as opposed to a
persuasive/information oriented perspective.
Negative emotional reactions to any problems in life can cause
this center to become blocked. This can result in illness
connected to sexual organs and lower back as well as the
pancreas, liver, and spleen.
Martial Arts, meditation, and sex with a loving partner can all
help to clear, open, and keep this center functioning.
Additionally painting, socializing, writing, and playing
music/singing will help to clear, open, and keep it
functioning.
An exercise for opening this center involves taking a martial
arts horse stance and rotating your hips in a circle or doing
belly dance figure eights.
SOLAR PLEXUS CENTER
The solar plexus center is located at the base of the sternum.
Its physical world color is yellow. It deals with our mind,
especially as it functions here in the physical world. Anything
intellectual is connected to the solar plexus center as is most
forms of communication from a mental perspective.
This center also deals with our self-esteem, self-worth,
confidence, and personal power. Whenever we are submissive to
others or even circumstances in our life, this center weakens.
Likewise, not loving yourself or not being proud of the self
can have the same effect.
This center and the heart center are usually so closely linked
that they are considered tied together. When a person operates
from the solar plexus level though, they tend to take things
very personally.
Besides what has already been mentioned, emotional
disappointment in love and interpersonal relationships can
cause this center to become blocked. When blocked, illness can
develop in the heart, stomach, liver, upper digestive tract,
and lungs.
Anything intellectual in nature will help to clear, open, and
keep this center functioning.
An exercise for opening this center involves jumping as high as
you can.
HEART CENTER
The heart center is located in the center of the chest and the
physical world color associated with it is green. This center
allows a person to have the ability to be unconditionally
caring and loving. This is not solar plexus, sacral, or root
center love which many times are possessive in nature, rather
it is a higher form of love where both the good and bad are
equally embraced and accepted and is with total positive
regard. It also allows a person to receive love in all forms
and to feel joy, kinship, and peace.
This center usually becomes blocked when there is an overflow
from a blocked solar plexus center. Any type of hate related
emotions can also cause blockages to this center. Illness and
injury related to a blocked heart center can develop in the
heart, lungs, upper spine, and shoulders.
Playing with children or pets, being in the presence of beauty,
and laughing will all help to clear, open, and keep this center
functioning.
The psychic ability connected to this center is clairsentience,
which means clear feeling.
An exercise for opening this center involves back bends.
THROAT CENTER
The throat center is located at the root of the tongue and has
a physical world color of blue. It is the seat of our will and
deals with our will power, manifestation ability,
self-discipline, and control. An open throat center allows a
person to have fortitude and to work through problems that
would stop others. This center is also called the truth center,
because in order to function properly we must be living our
truth, in whatever form and belief that may be.
The center is most likely to become blocked when we hold back
the things we really need to say and express or when we over
express ourselves in a melodramatic way. A blocked throat
center can cause illness or injury to the ears, throat, mouth,
neck, and thyroids.
Chanting, drumming, journaling, saying no when we don't want to
do something, expressing our needs openly and honestly, and
discharging anger in an appropriate manner all help to clear,
open, and keep this center functioning properly. Additionally,
speaking in front of crowds and sharing problems with trusted
friends will also serve to help to clear, open, and keep this
center functioning properly.
The psychic ability connected to this center is clairaudience,
which means clear hearing. It is our psychic ability to hear
auditory voices from guides, angels, spirit teachers, and
deceased loved ones.
An exercise for opening this center would be to rotate the neck
in a circle from left to right and then switching and going
from right to left. Do this multiple times with the mouth
open.
THIRD EYE/BROW CENTER
The third eye, also called the brow center, is located above
the bridge of the nose and in between the two eye brows. The
physical world color that we associate with this center is
indigo. When open and operating with an opened crown center, we
usually gain the ability of clairvoyance, which means clear
seeing. This psychic ability is the one most people have heard
of and it represents the pictures that a person sees with their
third eye, not their physical eyes.
This center also is connected to wisdom, intuition, and
imagination. This center, when balanced, makes use of the whole
brain as opposed to one side or the other.
This center usually only becomes blocked when a person misuse
their psychic abilities, especially clairvoyance, to pry where
they aren't suppose to. It can also become blocked when we try
to manipulate others. A blocked third eye can result in illness
and injury to head and eyes.
Visualizing the release of negativity in your life along with
relaxing and having "child-like" fun can help to clear, open,
and keep this center functioning. Additionally, reading
spiritual based books, praying, meditation, and being thankful
can also help to clear, open, and keep this center
functioning.
An exercise for opening this center would be to rotate your
eyes from left to right and then switching and going from right
to left. Do this multiple times, but without causing eye
strain.
CROWN CENTER
The crown center is located at the top of the head on the
inside of it as opposed to the outside. The physical world
color normally associated with this center is violet, but
purple and white have also been used. It is represented many
times by the thousand-pedal lotus opening up.
This center deals with spirituality and connecting to the
divine in all forms. It is where our inspiration comes from and
it brings insight into our daily lives when it is opened and
functioning properly. The purpose of this center is to open us
up to the beauty, that divine source, whatever we may think of
it as.
This center can become blocked when a person is going through a
spiritual crisis, has no spiritual base, or through an
abundance of negative thinking. A blocked crown center can
result in headaches and neck tension and a closed crown center
could even lead to a brain tumor or other brain related
illnesses.
Meditation for 15 to 20 minutes daily, inner reflections,
prayers for the world and reading or listening to those works
of great spiritual leaders like Christ and Buddha can all help
to open, clear and keep this center functioning properly.
This center combines with the third eye center to help open us
up to clairvoyance. It can also be related to a general
"knowingness."
An exercise for opening this center is to rub the top of your
head in a clockwise direction.
Additionally, the proper function of ALL chakras can be aided
by doing a chakra meditation/visualization.
John Culbertson is a Mason and Rosicrucian. He owns a new age
fantasy gift and book store called Starchild:
http://www.starchildbooks.com His personal web site is located
at: http://www.mysticjohnculbertson.com He enjoys teaching
psychic development, numerology, tarot, and pretty much all
aspects of the new age field. He is a ghost writer and sees
clients on a regular basis at his store in Florida. He is also
available for classes, speaking engagements, and private
lessons.
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