Chakra 101

What are the chakras? 

I would like to write about Chakra today. Originally, chakra means "wheel" or "sun" in Sanskrit and first mentioned in the ancient sacred scripture, Vedas from India. In Indian writings, the word of chakra appears as early as 200 BC as bodily centers of feeling or consciousness.

The seven chakras which are aligned along the spine column and are considered to be the energy centers within a human body. Chakras are not the physical organ but you want to visualize that they are as swirling, funnel shaped vortexes that open out from our physical body into out aura on both of the front and the back side of the body. 

How do the chakras work?

These circular spinning funnels are the energy processor of our body. Chakras draw in energy from the outside into our body. Another point, the life force energy, prana or chi travels upward through the inside of the spinal column which is called susumna(primary nardi the channel of energy). Nardi means energy pathways in yoga, similar to meridians in Chinese medicine. We need to clean up our susumna and nardi to flow freely for prana to maintain our body & mind using chakra system for providing energy and stimulating at each chakra. To clean up your susumna, we can practice yogic exercises such as asana(pose), mudra(hand gestures with breathing techniques), kumbhaka(breathing techniques), bandha(techniques of tightening the body), meditation, and so on. Reiki treatment is also the good option. 

The life force gives the body its health and vitality. As prana moves upwards, it passes through major seven chakras and also from the energy centers through thousand of energy pathways to entire body. Seven chakras correspond to our feelings, emotions, and behavior characteristics. Chakras are also associated with organs and bodily functions, elements, and represented by colors and numbers.  

State of the chakras

Most of us cannot see the chakras, however, it is possible to become familiar with how chakras are working by focusing attention on the chakra located areas and concentrating on how the area feels. Imbalance in the chakra as either a slow speed of rotating and a diminution of its size or too fast speed of spinning and open too wide. Spinning too slow & closing chakras are often leading to underworking in the physical organs and spinning too fast & open too wide chakras are leading to physical and emotional problems. It is possible to  influence or simulate the state of chakras by using colors. The each chakra color you wear cloth or gemstone jewelries, you meditate, even the food you eat aids to focus on the specific chakra. 

Attribution of each chakra

Other descriptions for each chakras

 *   the number of the lotus flower petals on the chakra symbol
**   inches are for the singing bowls
*** element of brow chakra also said "light", "soul", "mind" and element of crown chakra also said "Divine Consciousness" and "soul". There are more depends on theory. 

Postscript

Widely known that the chakra activating is starting from the 1st chakra which is root chakra to up thorough the 7th chakra which is crown chakra, And might be known as activating crown chakra is the goal of the chakra treatment. This idea is not wrong, but not the perfect. If all 7 chakras spinning in the moderate speed and open the ideal size, you might be balanced physically, mentally, spiritually. Keeping the balanced state, then energy goes around. That means from the root chakra to the crown chakra and the crown chakra to the root chakra. For example, first you recognize the actual life with the life force energy and grounded yourself at the root chakra. 2nd, you try to stand alone to create your world and know relationships with close people at the sacral chakra. 3rd, you might enhance your self-confidence in social life at the solar plexus chakra. Then 4th, you accept yourself and understand to receiving and giving love at the heart chakra. 5th, you express your thought, communicate with others at the throat chakra. And 6th, you can feel the intuition, aware the world, touch the wisdom at the third eye chakra. At the 7th, you realize the purpose of your life, connecting to the Universe, know the self-realization at the crown chakra. 

Conversely, the energy goes from the crown chakra to the root chakra, you receive inspirations from the Universe or God or your higher self at the crown chakra(7th). And next at the third eye chakra(6th), you aware the inspiration. Then at the throat chakra(5th), you might clarify the image in words. At the heart chakra(4th), you feel "like or dislike", "good or bad", "want to take or not" etc. At the solar plexus(3rd), you work on the project inspired by the idea you received. At the sacral chakra(2nd), take the action with others for fulfilment. Finally at the root chakra(1st), you actualize the idea in the physical world. Here was a kind of example but keeping your good balanced chakras make a positive spiral for sure. 

The chakra system is complex. There are many different doctrines and precepts in different ancient scriptures and books or materials in our time. This article is trying to take the basics and information of most common teachings. I hope this article works for you.