What are chakras?

There are 7 chakras in total and they are a spiritual belief part of most religions with some differences in each. The general idea is that certain parts of your body have spiritual connections and that can affect your health and wellness. They are often apart of a general practise of meditation and included in yoga sometimes as well as prayer. It really depends on your religion and your own beliefs. You can practise opening and closing your chakras or simply pay attention to them even if you are not religious at all. It is not a closed practise and new beginnings can be challenging to understand all the meanings.

Root

The lowest level and base needs are indicated here. This is your need for food, shelter, and water. All instincts and first needs are through this chakra. The concept is that when you lack something in this area, you will mess up the alignment of all others. And the concept makes perfect sense. How could you fall in love or have a fulfilling career without stress if you don’t have your basic needs met? This in my opinion is the most important chakra because it is how you feel safe in the world.

Sacral

This one. This is a big one for some people. Only the second chakra, but to be full and open you need to work more than you would think. This is the emotional creativity based need chakra. What that means is that you need to have your sense of wonder filled, your curiosity and creativity open. This could get blocked if you don’t continue with hobbies or maybe you are just going through the motions without ever even cooking a new meal. Monotony can really damage this chakra. Again it makes sense. People need hobbies and interests and when we lack or overindulge it messes with our lives.

Solar Plexus

Ok, this is not a problem for me…but I know a few people who have this one way out of line, and that sucks. This is your power chakra and your sense of control in your life. Your freedom and how you feel you have the ability the make decisions in your life. This is from self fulfilment. Example: I love to write and I take time out of my job and life to make sure I have my writing. When you lose your personal goals or your confidence drops this can affect the chakra as well. It is your confidence and your ambitions that drives this chakra to be open and strong. There is an interesting clinical relation in this term and location. If you are having acid reflux you should get that checked by a doctor, but that is also how anxiety could feel and is the same result of this chakra being unhealthy. If there isn’t a medical reason, you should consider some lifestyle changes that improve your confidence and give you a sense of accomplishment.

Heart

We all know its love. There is a reason we always blame the heart for our love troubles and give it credit when we are happy. You can feel it too, physically. When you are in love, people often say their heart felt warm and full. We also know all too well that when we have a heartbreak, that hurts a lot. It hurts your heart and you can fell that too. Many people have been confused for a heart attack when having severe emotional distress, including causing people to have an actual heart attack. Do not take this chakra lightly, it can have very real physical effects. You can alway open this chakra in others ways than romantic relationships too! Volunteering and showing compassion are some of the best ways to open this chakra and warm your heart.

Throat

This sounds obvious as well which makes it easy to remember. Your ability to express yourself and your communication. This chakra is all about how you are able to speak up for yourself or communicated with those around you. It also goes deeper and can be blocked by lack of self expression. If you do not feel you can dress or present yourself how you want to, that can have a damaging effect. I think that explains why I hated wearing uniforms at work and school when I was younger. However, I don’t think they would let me dress how I wanted if I told them they were closing my chakra and it was causing me anxiety…but it could have been worth a try.

Third Eye

This is one even without the rest found in many religions all over the world. Almost every religion talks about the third eye. We even had one way back before we looked how we do. So, I think it is obvious what this chakra is and does. Your imagination, your intuition, and your conscious function. This can be affected in ways we do not always think of. You could ignore your intuition so much that you feel it less. There are other blocks as well like when you are overly tired or too stressed, etc. Of course, you need your other chakras aligned and open to even have this one open. That is the real challenge. This one in my opinion is the easiest to keep open. It just that it won’t be open without all the 5 before it already open and healthy. That is the struggle of life.

Crown

This is the last one and the most powerful. It relies on all 6 others in line and open flowing with energy. This is often not open for most people and you would not even notice usually. Honestly, mine is probably never open. I should work on that. This is for morals and religion or spirituality. You can see new knowledge and insight. It doesn’t have to be religious only. Learning new things can open this one. And if you, like myself, are having trouble studying it could be adhd or maybe you need to open this chakra. I am not sure which it is for myself, but I am better at studying in the mornings and after I have meditated. Whichever it is, studying or praying (however you do that personally) can open this chakra. Opening this one can create a calm in you and positivity in your life.

Note about namaste:

This is a word used to greet someone politely and when used it yoga practise can be said at the start or finish. It can also be used during meditation along with other prayers, positive affirmations, or mantras. Please say it with care and respect as it is sometimes a word used in many cultures, often with significance.