The word “chakra” translates into the English word “wheel” or “disc.”  It refers to the energy centres in our bodies and each contains nerves, organs and our emotional, psychological and spiritual states of being.  It is vital to one’s overall health to keep the chakras aligned and open to allow energy to flow through freely.  There are seven chakras.  Each correlates to a different aspect connected to the physical Self. For example, the root chakra represents one’s sense of grounding and stability.  Work or relationship stress, negative thinking patterns and illness can all impact the positive energy flow throughout your body.

 

The 1st chakra – Root Chakra – Muladhara

The official name of this chakra, Muladhara, comes from the words Mula, which means root and Dhara, which means support.

So, this chakra’s role is to connect all of your energy with the Earth, which is called grounding.

When you think of your Root Chakra, think of your day to day survival here on earth. This energy center’s role is to give you everything you need to survive. For us in this modern age, that typically translates to financial and emotional security.

Colour: Red

Location: This chakra is located at the very base of your spine, near your tailbone. It goes up to just below your belly button.

What balanced feels like: When your 1st chakra is balanced, you will feel a sense of accomplishment and peace when you think about things like money, safety, and shelter.

You will feel connected to your human experience.

When this chakra is overactive: Our root chakra gets a lot of use, so having an overactive root chakra is very common.

The 2nd chakra – Sacral Chakra – Svadhishana

The 2nd chakra is the sacral chakra or svadhishana which translates to “the place of the self.”

This chakra is all about your identity as a human and what you do with it. From of all 7 chakras, this chakra is responsible for bringing you creative energy to help enrich your life.

Your sacral chakra is the home of the creative life force energy that helps you enjoy your life here on Earth.

It’s the energy that motivates you to enjoy the fruits of your labor, including indulging in pleasurable activities like sex and intimacy.

Location: The sacral chakra is located right below the belly button and extends to its center.

What balanced feels like: When your 2nd chakra is balanced, you will relish in the pleasurable things life has to offer, without overdoing them.

Sex, good food, and creative activities will be inspiring and enjoyable, and you will get a sense of wellness and abundance from them.

The 3rd chakra – Solar Plexus – Manipura

The 3rd chakra is the Solar Plexus or Manipura which translates to “lustrous gem.” This chakra is where your self-confidence, identity, and personal power are born.

Have you ever been in a situation that you just knew wasn’t right for you? Where did you feel those cues in your body?

Most people say they feel those types of cues in their “gut.”

In reality, this is the seat of your personal power, your solar plexus, and you can physically feel that confidence and wisdom in its location.

Colour: Yellow

Location: The solar plexus starts in the center of the belly button and extends up to the breastbone or where your two sets of ribs connect in the center of your chest.

What balanced feels like: When your 3rd chakra is balanced, you will feel a sense of wisdom, decisiveness, and personal power.

Many call this chakra the warrior chakra, as the feeling you get from it is comparable to a wise warrior going into battle.

He has the confidence to win and the wisdom to know the personal truth he is fighting for.

The 4th chakra – Heart – Anahata

The 4th chakra is the Heart or Anahata chakra, which translates to “unhurt.” This chakra is where your love, compassion, and kindness are empowered.

It’s not hard to understand this chakra.

We all associate our hearts with love, and that’s exactly what the 4th chakra is all about. And this includes love for others and love for yourself, which is why this chakra is also associated with health and healing.

Colour: Green

Location: The heart chakra’s center is located right over your heart and it radiates down to your breastbone and up to your throat. It is the middle one of the 7 chakras and it’s connecting the higher chakras (the heaven) with the lower chakras (the physical world).

What balanced feels like: When your 4th chakra is balanced, you are able to equally feel love for yourself and others. Even when tough things happen, you can still see the compassion and kindness in others.

The 5th chakra – Throat – Vishuddha

The 5th chakra is the Throat chakra or Vishuddha which translates to “very pure.”

This chakra gives a voice to your personal truths.

So, where does your voice come from?

What provides the energy for you to speak?

On a physical level, of course, the answer is the throat, but on an energetic level, this energy actually comes from your 5th chakra. This chakra lets you speak your truth with clarity.

Resting right above the heart, the throat chakra is connected to the compassion and love you have for yourself and others.

Colour: Blue

Location: The throat chakra’s center is right in between your collarbone, and it radiates down to the center of your heart and up to the center of your eyes.

What balanced feels like: When your throat chakra is balanced, you will be able to speak clearly with love, kindness, and truth.

In fact, you will know exactly which words are appropriate for each situation. And speaking with a balanced throat chakra will enlighten and inspire those around you.

The 6th chakra – The Third Eye – Ajna

The 6th chakra is the Third Eye Chakra Ajna which translates to “beyond wisdom.” This chakra opens up your mind to information beyond the material world and the 5 senses.

Extrasensory perception, intuition or psychic energy, all come from the third eye.

There is actually a small pinecone-shaped gland in your brain that takes in light. This gland, the pineal gland, is responsible for helping you feel awake in the daytime and sleepy at night.

Long before brain imaging, ancient cultures knew this Third Eye existed, and they also realized it received information from sources outside of the five senses.

Colour: Indigo

Location: The third eye’s center is in between your eyebrows. It radiates down to your mouth and up to the top of your head.

What balanced feels like: A balanced third eye is a beautiful thing, and it’s really what you are trying to achieve when you start on a path to spiritual development.

When your third eye chakra is balanced, you will equally feel in tune with both the physical world and the material world. You will receive psychic information as frequently as you receive information from your 5 physical senses, but it will not overwhelm you.

The 7th chakra – Crown – Sahaswara

The 7th chakra is the Crown or Sahaswara, which translates to “thousand petaled.” This chakra is pure consciousness energy.

The Crown chakra is one of those energies that’s hard to explain.

You can think of it like magnetism.

When you hold a piece of metal to a magnet, you can feel the energy and tension, but you can’t see it. Consciousness energy is everywhere and in everything. It connects us to the entire universe.

Our own personal consciousness is located in the 7th chakra, but it’s really more like the seed of a universal energy than something personal or individual.

Colour: Violet–white

Location: The crown chakra’s center is at the top of your head. It radiates down to between your eyes and then extends infinitely upward and outward, connecting you to the energy of the rest of the universe.

What balance feels like: Achieving a balanced crown chakra is the goal of every spiritual warrior, and it’s not easy to do. You can think of it as the Buddhist concept of achieving nirvana.

Once you achieve it, you’re not really human anymore – you’ve conquered suffering and death.

Of course, it is the journey of attempting to achieve this balance that brings us happiness, good health, and wisdom. Trying to balance your 7th chakra will align and balance your other chakras.