Chakra Healing

Everything About 7 Chakras

CHAKRAS 

OPEN UP TO THE ENERGY OF THE CHAKRAS! 

If you could change your life for the better, would you do it? You have that opportunity – to do so, you must learn more about the chakras, which are the gateway to the divine energies within you.

This blog will tell you how knowing and applying the ancient and powerful chakra system can improve your physical health, receptivity and awareness, achieve emotional balance, personal power, love, and increase your creativity. You will learn simple exercises that hold the key to personal freedom and spiritual growth.

Discover the profound wisdom of an ancient tantric system used by mystics for thousands of years. A spiritual journey awaits you!

MULADHARA IS THE FIRST CHAKRA

SVADHISTHANA – THE PLACE OF LIFE

MANIPURA IS THE POWER CHAKRA

ANAHATA – HEART CHAKRA

VISHUDDHA – THROAT CHAKRA

AJNA – VISION CENTER

SAHASRARA – CROWN

THE CHAKRA SYSTEM

 

The chakra is a rotating vortex of energy within us, created through the interaction of consciousness and the physical body. This combination makes the chakras the centers for receiving, absorbing and transmitting life energies. The totality of the chakras is what we call the self. It is through the chakras that our “self” grows, changes and interacts with the world around us.

The word “chakra” comes from Sanskrit and means “wheel” or “disc” and has its roots in the philosophy of the ancient Indian yogic system, more specifically in the Tantric texts. According to this system, there are seven main chakras arranged vertically along the spine, beginning at the base of the spine and ending at the top of the head. On the physical level, these seven chakras

correspond to major nerve nodes, glands of internal secretion and basic physiological processes such as breathing, assimilation or procreation. Although the chakras are located within the human body and have a strong influence on health, they themselves are not composed of any physical components. Doctors cannot work with the chakras, although both can affect us physically.

Psychologically (which I refer to as the mental, emotional and spiritual realms), the chakras correspond to basic aspects of life, such as survival, sex, strength, love, communication, responsiveness and understanding (see correspondence chart).

Taking the original meaning of the word one step further, the chakras can be thought of as internal “drives” on which information about life functions is stored. The first chakra contains the survival program, that is, what we should eat and when to perform certain actions; the second chakra contains the sexual program, that is, ethics and preferences; the upper chakras are perception and information storage. Our body is a computer, and each of us has a slightly different model, programmed in an individual language and with a unique operating system. Ideally, work with the chakras is aimed at finding out what programs we have at each particular level, identifying destructive programs and consciously changing them into more positive ones.

Philosophically, the chakras correspond to the basic primary elements, that is, earth, water, fire, air, sound, light and thought. The elements describe the function of each chakra: e.g., Earth – stores, Water – flows, Fire – transforms. Many other correspondences such as colors, sounds, plants and stones are also associated with the chakras and can be used as tools to develop the chakras.

There are many smaller chakras in the body, including the hands and feet. They function as centers like the rest of the chakras, but do not usually correlate with philosophical concepts. However, people who do work with their hands are more likely to have well-developed hand chakras, and runners should have well-developed foot chakra channels.

As a whole system, the seven chakras describe patterns that can be clearly seen in many aspects of our lives. Expressed in terms of cultural evolution, they describe the stages of development that humanity has passed through, from the first chakra of primitive survival consciousness in the Paleolithic era to the consciousness of force dominance (the third chakra) in our day.

In terms of personal development, the chakras describe a progression from infancy to early adulthood and from adulthood to old age as we establish survival strategies, form sexual relationships, develop personal power, communicate, see and learn. If we understand the significance of these levels, we can create appropriate strategies for coping with both personal and cultural situations.

The chakras are sometimes called lotuses because they open and close like flowers, and in the Tantric tradition they are depicted with different numbers of petals. The number of petals, from four in the first chakra to a thousand or more in the upper one, indicates the frequency of the vibrations.

THE CHAKRA Meanings

The chakra is a rotating vortex of energy within us, created through the interaction of consciousness and the physical body. This combination makes the chakras the centers for receiving, absorbing and transmitting life energies. The totality of the chakras is what we call the self. It is through the chakras that our “self” grows, changes and interacts with the world around us.

The word “chakra” comes from Sanskrit and means “wheel” or “disc” and has its roots in the philosophy of the ancient Indian yogic system, more specifically in the Tantric texts.

According to this system, there are seven main chakras arranged vertically along the spine, beginning at the base of the spine and ending at the top of the head. On the physical level, these seven chakras correspond to major nerve nodes, glands of internal secretion and basic physiological processes such as breathing, assimilation or procreation.

Although the chakras are located within the human body and have a strong influence on health, they themselves are not composed of any physical components. Doctors cannot work with the chakras, although both can affect us physically.

Psychologically (which I refer to as the mental, emotional and spiritual realms), the chakras correspond to basic aspects of life, such as survival, sex, strength, love, communication, responsiveness and understanding (see correspondence chart).

Taking the original meaning of the word one step further, the chakras can be thought of as internal “drives” on which information about life functions is stored. The first chakra contains the survival program, that is, what we should eat and when to perform certain actions; the second chakra contains the sexual program, that is, ethics and preferences; the upper chakras are perception and information storage.

Our body is a computer, and each of us has a slightly different model, programmed in an individual language and with a unique operating system. Ideally, work with the chakras is aimed at finding out what programs we have at each particular level, identifying destructive programs and consciously changing them into more positive ones.

Philosophically, the chakras correspond to the basic primary elements, that is, earth, water, fire, air, sound, light and thought. The elements describe the function of each chakra: e.g., Earth – stores, Water – flows, Fire – transforms. Many other correspondences such as colors, sounds, plants and stones are also associated with the chakras and can be used as tools to develop the chakras.

There are many smaller chakras in the body, including the hands and feet. They function as centers like the rest of the chakras, but do not usually correlate with philosophical concepts. However, people who do work with their hands are more likely to have well-developed hand chakras, and runners should have well-developed foot chakra channels.

As a whole system, the seven chakras describe patterns that can be clearly seen in many aspects of our lives. Expressed in terms of cultural evolution, they describe the stages of development that humanity has passed through, from the first chakra of primitive survival consciousness in the Paleolithic era to the consciousness of force dominance (the third chakra) in our day.

In terms of personal development, the chakras describe a progression from infancy to early adulthood and from adulthood to old age as we establish survival strategies, form sexual relationships, develop personal power, communicate, see and learn. If we understand the significance of these levels, we can create appropriate strategies for coping with both personal and cultural situations.

The chakras are sometimes called lotuses because they open and close like flowers, and in the Tantric tradition they are depicted with different numbers of petals. The number of petals, from four in the first chakra to a thousand or more in the upper one, indicates tantric vibration frequency (see the correspondence table).

When a chakra is closed, the life energy cannot pass through this part of the body, and we can say that the program of this chakra works in a limited way. In this case we feel a lack of strength to perform the vital functions associated with this chakra (e.g. the ability to communicate – chakra 5), and may experience malaise in the corresponding physical organs (sore throat or neck).

The chakra may also be “bloated” if it is in imbalance with the other chakras of the system. In this case, this chakra consumes so much of the body’s energy and attention that the other chakras lack it. If the third chakra is bloated, there is a predominant dependence on dominating others to the detriment of the ability to love and the state of balance inherent in the heart chakra above. We will look at each chakra individually, as well as the effects of chakras that are too closed or too open, a little later.

With care and preparation, it is possible to control and manage the chakras. They can be developed like a muscle, programmed like a computer, nurtured like a seed, or closed like a book. Chakra development is possible with a full understanding of the whole system and, further, working in a particular direction. Techniques may include physical exercises, healing old traumas through therapy, meditation, chanting mantras, working with the elements of the chakras, their plants, stones, personal rituals, and general exercises that have survived through the ages.

The body is the receptacle of consciousness. The chakras can be thought of as the wheels of life, carrying this vehicle along the path of development toward enlightenment. Each of the chakras within us serves as transmissions, each designed to perform a specific function or to overcome life’s situations. As we open our chakras, we become more and more conscious and live more fully. Our journey becomes smoother and more purposeful, and at the same time more delightful, as we come ever closer to what we are in our fullness.

KUNDALINI 

Kundalini is often referred to in connection with the chakras. According to mythology, Kundalini is a snake goddess sleeping at the base of the spine, wrapped three and a half times around the first chakra, waiting to be released. Having been awakened by one of the existing techniques, she ascends the center of the body, penetrating and awakening each chakra. When it reaches the upper chakra and all the chakras open, one is said to have experienced enlightenment.

So what is this strange and mystical power of the goddess?

Figure 3. The movement of the Kundalini energy can be compared to the work of the gears on which a snake crawls. If a chakra is too small, no energy is transmitted through it to the next chakra! The ascent of the Kundalini stops.

I prefer to imagine the Kundalini in relation to the metaphor of gears. In an undeveloped person, the chakras are small. Each rotates in its own place, but the rotation of one does not necessarily affect the rotation of the other. As the chakras develop and can handle more energy, they begin to interact with each other and thus stimulate the rotation of the chakras above and below. When this happens, we feel a rush of power and are clearly aware of the whole system. We experience the power of the Kundalini.

Kundalini is a powerful force that can cause radical changes on the physical and mental levels. Some people find it difficult to function in their daily lives when the Kundalini force is active. For others, it is a joyful and luminous experience. Some say it is pure sexual energy, others say it is the coincidence of the rhythms of vibration between the brain waves and the physiological subsystems. There are many theories, none of them conclusive. Triggers can be yoga practices, meditation, physical influences (such as a car accident or active exercise), mental shocks (horror movies sometimes have that effect on me), or a class with a master of the art of Kundalini awakening. It is not recommended to practice Kundalini without a teacher or support system to guide you through the transformation process. However, the Kundalini is a healing power and has its fullest effect when we can surrender to it completely.

Hand chakra opening 

To find out what a chakra is, try the following exercise.

Sit so that you are comfortable, extend your arms straight out in front of you, with your elbows straight. Turn one palm down and the other palm up. Quickly clench and unclench your fists until it doesn’t make you uncomfortable. Change the position of your palms and continue to clench and unclench your fists until your arms are tired.

Lower your hands, unclench your fists, and slowly bring your palms together and apart. Can you feel the ball of energy between your hands? If you tune in better, you can feel the rotation. These are the chakras of your hands, little copies of the chakras of the spine.

MULADHARA IS THE FIRST CHAKRA. 

Element: earth

Color: red

Verb: I have.

Attributes: survival, earthiness, materiality, body

The first chakra is at the base of the spine, at the point where you are currently sitting. Its name, Muladhara, means “root,” and its energy channels, like roots, run down the legs and feet into the earth.

Its color is red, and its symbol is a lotus with four petals, inside which is a triangle with the top down, symbolizing root energy.

The easiest way to stimulate this chakra is to sit upright in a chair, put your feet on the floor and press down slightly. Your feet will squeeze slightly and the flow of energy to the first chakra will increase. As you relax your legs and feet, you will feel that the flow of energy has weakened. There’s no need to press on your feet all the time, it’s just a way to increase the flow of energy to your lower body while doing mental work, like sitting at your desk, talking on the phone, watching TV or being in a meeting.

Muladhara is the foundation of the entire chakra system. It is responsible for everything related to survival: eating, sleeping, moving, recovering, and even feeling safe. If we take proper care of our own survival, it gives us a peaceful focus on the next levels, such as learning, relationships and creativity. If the chakra is damaged, we will constantly face threats to our own survival, which in turn will prevent us from working on other plans. Such threats can be job changes, having to relocate, health problems, weight problems, and/or feeling fear for our lives.

These are things we sometimes encounter in our normal lives. When these situations arise, they affect the first chakra. The need to change our place of residence causes us to feel insecure, cold, or make us eat more. These feelings only become permanent when there is a problem with the first chakra.

Survival consciousness is the primary state of the infant, and if proper attention has been shown at this stage, there should be no problems with the first chakra later on. Abandoned, separated from their mother at birth (incubator babies), abused, and those who have had severe childhood illnesses are more likely to have problems with the first chakra in later life.

The result can be the problems mentioned above, as well as psychological problems related to lack of discipline, dependence on others, possible eating problems, feelings of emptiness and abandonment, and the inability to “let it go and relax. All of these are indicators that the first chakra is blocked, not opening properly and not allowing energy to flow freely through it.

On the other hand, if the chakra is too open, we become attached to that level. We can become obsessed with money and a sense of possession, health, can’t allow change and as a result become attached to daily routines, old jobs, situations.

When the chakra is closed, we lack stability. When it’s too open, we become frozen in our state. The ideal is when stability and flexibility are in balance.

The element of the first chakra is earth. The earth is solid, heavy, underneath us and supplies us with everything we need to survive: food, clothing and protection.

The force directed downward toward the earth, like roots, is gravity. Gravity is created by mass – the greater the mass of any body, the stronger its gravity. :

The force of gravity allows us to be connected to the earth. We don’t have to do anything, just relax, and gravity will appear. When we allow gravity to carry us, we are in harmony with the downward flow of the first chakra.

A common term for this flow in the human body is grounding. Grounding is the process of dynamic contact with the earth that occurs through the feet and legs. When the grounding process is done correctly, our whole body becomes full of energy.

Grounding is laying the foundation. Before we build the walls of a house, we lay the foundation. Nothing that has no foundation can be solid.

Grounding reveals to us the truths hidden in our bodies, allowing us to stand firm and free from need and health problems.

The main vital function associated with the first chakra is nourishment. We cannot live long without food. An eating disorder (too much or too little) usually indicates an imbalance in the first chakra. Eating is a grounding activity; it brings us a sense of groundedness, calmness, security. Being overweight can be an attempt to ground stress, protect the body, or replace more proper grounding techniques. Undernourishment and chronic underweight can be attempts to avoid grounding and all things physical because it feels frightening or limiting.

Exercise Grounding. 

Stand up straight, feet shoulder-width apart, toes slightly turned inward (take off your shoes so you can feel the floor beneath your feet). Press on your feet as if you want to push through the floorboards. As you do this exercise, you will feel your feet getting firmer. This is because you are pushing down on your feet.

Once you feel firm, you can begin the exercise. Take a deep breath and bend your knees while relaxing your stomach. Now exhale and m-e-d-l-e-n-n-o press your feet as you prepare for the exercise, and slowly straighten your legs. Don’t straighten them completely, but bend them again, taking a breath. Press down on the floor again at the same time as you exhale, pushing energy down through your body.

Don’t straighten your legs completely, breathe and move slowly. If you do the exercise correctly, you will feel a vibration in your feet as you push down on the floor. This vibration is a charge of energy flowing through the feet into the first chakra. It can be used to remove blocks, improve your contact with your body, or to feel invigorated and refreshed.

There is a possibility of overdosing on energy, so don’t get overly enthusiastic about doing the exercise. If you do overdose and feel restless, kick the pillows, shake your whole body, or let the feelings you are experiencing come out.

SVADHISTHANA – THE PLACE OF LIFE 

Element: Water

Color: orange

Verb: I feel, I want

Attributes: polarity, motion, sexuality, pleasure, emotions

We move from the Earth, whose energy is still, solid, dense. We have become aware of our body, our roots and all that goes with them. Now we are ready to perceive the next level.

Working with the second chakra, we are dealing with change.

Our solitude becomes duality; a point becomes a line; solid becomes liquid; stillness becomes movement. We gain a degree of freedom.

Through change, we create and know the difference. The difference at its extremes creates polar opposites. Polarities create attraction and movement. Movement is a life necessity.

The second chakra is located in the lower abdomen, between the navel and the genitals. It corresponds to the sacral spine and a nerve node called the sacral plexus. This plexus captures the sciatic nerve and is the center of body movement. It is also called “the seat of life.

The element of this chakra is water. Thus, the chakra is responsible for the functions of the body associated with fluids: circulation, urine secretion, sexuality and procreation.

It is commonly believed that this chakra is the center of sexuality, emotion, sensation, pleasure and movement, Like water, it is ruled by the Moon, influencing the tides and our emotions.

The Sanskrit name for this chakra is Svadhistha-na, which means “sweetness.” This is an appropriate name for the sweetness of passion, pleasure and sexuality associated with the life-giving waters of Swadhisthana. The color of this chakra is orange, and its lotus contains an incomplete moon surrounded by six petals.

The second chakra embodies the nature of the “two” and rests on polarity, initiating movement in the Body and consciousness as the Kundalini rises through the chakras. The encounter with the “opposite” generates passion, and passion drives us to move, achieve, grow and change.

All chakras are connected by a nonphysical channel running down the spine called the Sushumna. Two channels, Ida and Pingala, twist in a figure-eight pattern around each chakra, intersecting with the Sushumna. These channels are only part of the thousands of energy channels called nadis (from nad, which means “movement”). Ida and Pingala represent the lunar and solar properties, respectively. They are responsible for “charging” the chakras, making them rotate.

We have added a certain amount of consciousness to the perception of our own bodies. Our psychic feelings at this level are expressed as emotions. We may “feel” that something is not right, but that feeling is not yet fully conscious.

If the chakra is too open, there may be a tendency to feel the emotions of everyone around us or to be completely influenced by frequent and dramatic emotional outbursts.

EXERCISE Pelvic Lift 

If the chakra is closed, we become dull, lifeless, dry. We don’t feel emotions, we have weak desires and aspirations, our interest in sex is either very sluggish or absent altogether,

Ideally, we should embrace both polarities, feel our own emotions and express our sexuality without losing touch with our own center.

The primary property of the second chakra is sexuality. Sexuality is the power of life. It is the water that softens the solid earth and prepares it for change. This power is often denied or perverted, and by being deprived of pleasure, we are deprived of power. In losing desire, we lose our will. Power and will are properties of the next chakra, and pleasure and passion are their foundation. Sexuality is the flower of these seeds. Strength and will are their fruits.

Lie on your back with your knees bent so that your feet are firmly on the floor. Breathe in fully with your chest and exhale completely, lifting your pelvis at the end of the exhalation. Imagine squeezing the breath between your legs.

When you exhale, relax your knees, bringing your pelvis back to the floor, and breathe in again with your full chest. Repeat the exercise. Continue for at least five minutes to feel the effect.

Pelvic Lift 2. 

If the first exercise activates a huge amount of energy or you are too stiff to perform it slowly, try doing the same sequence of movements faster. In this exercise, move your pelvis up and down quickly, with maximum tension. Make any sounds you want while doing it (it is recommended to do this exercise on something soft, like a mat or a bed).

MANIPURA – THE POWER CHAKRA 

Element: fire

Color; yellow

Verb: I can

Attributes: strength, will, energy, transformation

Earth, Water, Fire. When our body is grounded and emotions are flowing, we can move into power, energy, and will.

This is our third chakra, the yellow lotus with ten petals, located in the solar plexus, the place where we feel fear and powerlessness. The element of this chakra is fire – radiating and transforming matter into energy, giving light and warmth. This chakra represents our “get up and go,” our action, our will and sense of our own power. Its name, Manipura, means “sparkling gem.” We can think of it as the shining yellow sun at the center of our body.

On the physical level, the third chakra controls metabolism, the process by which we convert food (matter) into energy and movement.

Digestive problems, stomach problems, hypoglycemia, diabetes, ulcers or addiction to stimulants such as caffeine are all related to dysfunctions in the third chakra. Weight problems can also be indicators that the body is not turning matter into energy well enough.

We can judge the state of the chakra by the structure of the body: a compressed, hard belly, sunken diaphragm or fatty folds on the belly indicate an insufficient or overcrowded third chakra.

Examining your relationship to the properties of fire can give you insight into the state of your third chakra. Do you experience a constant feeling of cold, physically or emotionally? Do you feel overheated? Are you fast and energetic or slow and lethargic?

When the third chakra is closed, one feels tired, fearful, shaky, and lonely. There is a fear of risk, conflict, responsibility, and, on top of that, a lack of energy. The person may be overly serious, lacking in fun or simplicity all the things that help the third chakra to open up and relax. Enjoyment from the second chakra helps to make the fire warm, without it our fire is cold and harsh.

If the chakra is too open, we have the bully archetype. It seeks control, power, strength, prestige. If the lower chakras are more ego-oriented, overcrowding of the third chakra can make a person egocentric, and even with a narcissism complex.

The best example of a balanced third chakra is the archetype of a warrior – strong, sensitive, in conflict only out of necessity, and maintaining a sense of power. A healthy third chakra allows you to take up and finish the job, to take risks, and to take on leadership roles without becoming self-congratulatory or imposing your own superiority.

In the second chakra we encounter passion. Passion is the fuel for the will, the inner fervor of our body, giving the mind the power it needs to make decisions. Fire is the spark of life, igniting the will to action. Fire is the spark between the polarities, and the third chakra creates power by connecting the polarities of the second chakra, like electricity, which is the connection of polarities. Having taken another step toward consciousness, we can now control desires and instincts with knowledge, making decisions that will be realized again when the mind-body pole is connected.

Power, then, is the act of joining together the parts to create a better whole. When we bring together all the parts that are within us-body, emotions, knowledge-then we have a powerful whole.

To stimulate the third chakra you need to get your energy moving. You can run, scream, kick pillows. You can also try the following exercise.

Lumberjack Exercise 

Stand so that your feet are well planted on the ground, bend your knees a little, heels about sixty centimeters wide. Lift your locked arms above your head. Bend back a little. Make an “a” sound, lowering your entire upper body down with your hands between your legs. The movement should be smooth and fast, give it as much strength and energy as you can. The sound should be full and loud. Repeat the exercise five to ten times, and you will feel a burst of energy in your upper body. This exercise is also good for releasing anger.

ANAHATA – HEART CHAKRA 

Element: air

Color: green

Verb: I love

Attributes: love, balance, relationship, compassion

We have already studied half of the seven-level chakra system. Above, we looked at the three chakras related to objects and actions in the external physical world. Below we will look at the three chakras related to the inner representation of the physical world as perceived mentally. The fourth chakra, located near the heart, is the point of balance between these two polarities: mind and body.

The symbol of the heart chakra is the lotus with twelve petals, containing within it two intersecting triangles that form a six-pointed star. These triangles signify the power of matter rising to release and the power of spirit striving for realization. In this chakra they merge, creating a center of peace and balance. The sounds of this chakra are “sam,” “yam,” and its animal is the antelope that runs free.

The heart chakra is associated with the element of air and the feeling of love. Air has no form, is invisible, is vital; of the four elements considered, it is the least dense. Air spreads out and fills any space it is in, it is soft and calm.

Love has these same properties. Love is the expansion of the heart, the transcending of boundaries, the interpenetration of the spirit. Love is balance, simplicity, gentleness and generosity. Love emanating from the fourth chakra feels like a state of being, existing independently of objects or personalities, unlike love of the second chakra, which is oriented toward an object of passion.

The Sanskrit name for this chakra is Anahata, which means “sound not born from the contact of two objects.” This describes the state when we are no longer in a state of confrontation with the object of love, but moving together with it in harmony. Struggle in the third chakra turns into acceptance in the fourth.

Because Anahata is connected with the element of air, it can be reached by breathing. Hindus call this breath prana, which means “first element,” and believe that prana contains the essence of all life and nourishment, being common to the mental and physical worlds. Opening the breath, accepting all that constitutes it, is the way to the heart chakra.

If the heart chakra is closed, our very essence suffers. Our breathing is shallow, it slows our metabolism and physical energy. Blocked at the center, we feel that our mind and body are separated. We shut ourselves off and become a closed system.

When the heart chakra is too open, we begin to give all our time and energy outward and become so focused on others that we lose our own center.

Ideally, the heart chakra should radiate love from a strong, solid center of self-acceptance and bring a sense of compassion and support to those around us. Through a state of balance, our love for ourselves and others should be balanced and interconnected. Just below the heart chakra is another small lotus that is rarely mentioned, but is important to the heart chakra. It is called the lotus of Anandakanda, it has eight petals and contains Kalpatara or the Tree of Divine Desires. In front of the tree is an altar for prayer, and it is believed that the tree contains the deep desires of the heart chakra-something we dare not speak of, but which most corresponds to our strongest desires. It is said that when someone prays on this altar from their heart, the tree gives even more of what they desire.

The driving force of this chakra is the power of balance. He who is in a state of balance lives long and in harmony with himself. Achieve balance in your heart and you will experience the mysteries of Anahata.

Exercise Arc 

Take the starting position for the first chakra exercise and breathe “into your feet,” drawing energy. Then move the energy charge to your pelvis, moving your hips back and forth until you feel the energy in the second chakra.

When you feel your hips and belly connected, assume the arch position, bending your knees, thrusting your pelvis forward first, then your belly and chest, and finally raising your arms with your head tilted back. (Be careful with your spine; do not hold this position if you feel any discomfort.)

If you hold the position correctly, you will feel a vibration in your chest. Breathe in and relax as much as possible in this difficult position. Imagine a green light filling and opening your heart.

Slowly assume the starting position with your knees slightly bent, slowly lower your arms to your sides, eyes closed. Stand for a while to rest and feel the effect of the exercise. When you are ready, repeat it.

VISHUDDHA – THROAT CHAKRA 

Element: Ether, sound

Color: blue

Verb: I speak

Attributes: sound, vibration, communication, creation

The fifth chakra is located around the neck and shoulders and is the center of communication and creation. Her color is blue-blue, a mixture of the deep indigo of the sixth chakra and the green of the heart chakra. Her lotus has sixteen petals, on which are inscribed all the vowels of Sanskrit. The vowels are thought to denote spirit, while the consonants frame and define matter. As we learn the fifth chakra, we delve deeper and deeper into the world of mind and spirit.

This lotus is called Vishuddha, which means “purification.” To fully and successfully open the fifth chakra, the body must attain a certain level of purity, which allows the sensitivity necessary to perceive the subtle levels of the upper chakras. It is commonly believed that the element of this chakra is ether, or akasha, which means “spirit,” as well as sound. Sound is the rhythmic oscillation of air molecules as they receive the impulse of movement. If I clap my hands, the sound you hear will be from the air I moved. Every sound is a vibration, and every object, animate or inanimate, has its own unique vibration. At this level, we perceive the world not as individual objects and their activities, but as an interwoven system of energies, each with its own characteristic rhythm of vibration.

Hindus believe that the entire universe is made up of sound. They say that Mother Kali, the destroyer, can erase the letters of the alphabet from the petals of the chakras when she designs to destroy the world. Without sound and language there can be no form.

Sound waves operate on the principle of resonance, or “reciprocal vibration. Resonance occurs when sound waves of the same frequency meet – their vibrations begin to oscillate simultaneously, in phase. Our breathing, heart rhythm, brain waves, sleeping and eating all have their own rhythm that connects us to the world around us. When we experience harmony with the world, then our inner rhythms resonate within us. This resonance, in turn, tunes the other waves into harmony with the rest, filling the body with strength and a sense of wholeness.

Through sound, we communicate. Communication is an activity and function of the fifth chakra. We communicate through a language that combines sound and rhythm, through which we express the physical world around us. Through symbols we can communicate with the world more effectively. I can talk about my car, but I can’t take it indoors with me. I can call New York City, I don’t have to go there to do that. Our mind operates with symbols. We think in words and images and tactile memory.

Communication is a rhythmic activity. The more our internal rhythms resonate, the easier and more pleasant we can communicate. Research has shown that regardless of the meaning of the words used, speakers and listeners enter into a common rhythm during communication. There is an opinion that mutual understanding occurs only when communication takes place in this unified rhythm.

Communication consists of speaking and listening. If one’s fifth chakra is closed, then there is fear of expressing one’s thoughts, fear of telling the truth or shyness. The voice itself sounds timid and there is a lack of words. If the chakra is too open, we are so busy expressing our own thoughts that we forget to listen or our voice becomes dissonant and we cannot resonate with the people around us.

Ideally, the fifth chakra should be connected to one’s own essence, both the upper and lower chakras, so that one can feel the thoughts of the mind and the feelings of the body with equal ease.

Singing is an action that increases the resonance of our entire being, allowing the inner systems to engage in rhythmic harmony. When chanting is practiced in a group, it increases the resonance of the group as a whole. From Zen monasteries to rock concerts, it is a very powerful tool for strengthening collective consciousness.

The fifth chakra is the center of creation, another form of symbolic communication. By opening this center, we unleash our creative potential. The stronger our inner resonance, the more powerful the power enclosed in our creations.

Experiment with the resonant frequencies of your chakras by chanting the following sounds, raising the tone from low as you ascend through the chakras. Try to find the pitch of the sound that resonates with your body. Work on pronouncing the sounds as fully as possible.

First chakra: the “O” sound.

Second chakra: the “U” sound.

Third chakra: the “A” sound.

Fourth chakra: the “A” sound.

Fifth chakra: the “I” sound.

Sixth chakra: the “M” sound.

Seventh chakra: the “N” sound, pronounced through the nose.

THE AJNA IS THE CENTER OF VISION. 

Element: light

Color: blue

Verb: I see

Attributes: clairvoyance, memory, dreaming, color

The sixth chakra, located at the level of the forehead, is also known as the third eye. The lotus of the sixth chakra has only two petals. It is the center of visual, psychic and intuitive perception, the place where we store memories and generate dreams.

Its name, Ajna, means “perception” and “control. Just as words give shape to the world, the images we store affect the events in our lives. What we perceive and remember is what we control. Concentrating on visualization is the first step to bringing our thought-forms to life.

The element of this chakra is light, a vibration higher and more impetuous than sound, the least dense and most multifaceted of all those we have considered. Traveling at unfathomable speeds, communicating across all intervals of space and time, light allows us to see the world as it truly is. And when we look at the world, we must remember that we are not seeing objects, but reflected light.

The Ajna corresponds to the pineal gland, a rudimentary organ of light perception located in the geometric center of the head. In the embryo, the pineal gland functions as a true third eye and then degenerates. It has been proved that the pineal gland is sensitive to light even if the optic nerves are cut off. The function of this gland in an adult remains a mystery. Some believe that it is involved in inner vision, which sometimes opens up in a meditative state.

The sixth chakra is responsible for the level of intuition, giving us information from the perception of inner images. Dreams are the best example of this. Clairvoyance is a rare phenomenon, a consequence of Ajna being open and functioning. The task of this center is to trace the inner images we create or perceive in order to make available a vast amount of information that cannot be obtained in any other way.

Those who have opened this level are aware of their sensations and can interpret them. If the chakra is closed, you may experience vision problems, headaches or intrusive dreams. If the chakra is too open, but there is no proper training, one may start to suffer from hallucinations, an overload of incoming information.

It is my sincere belief that we all without exception use this type of perception, whether we are aware of it or not.

Discovering inner perception is largely about learning to notice situations and creating a language with which to interpret them. If you know someone has done something in the past, there is a good chance they will do it again. As we come to know the upper chakras, we have a sense of divine order, and perception of that order allows us to easily and correctly “fill in the blanks” and see what is distant from us not only by space but also by time.

In addition to our internal images, there are also external images that surround us and govern us as a factor of collective consciousness. Television, newspapers, movies, and other means of visual influence are introduced directly into our consciousness. In order to purify the sixth chakra, we have to get rid of the images imposed on us and start perceiving the world with the directness of a child. Only then our organ of subtle perception begins to function normally. And when this happens, a world of images and colors becomes available to us, which is unlike anything that exists in reality.

Each chakra has its own color, and although the system has undergone changes since the time of ancient Tantra, the most popular is the rainbow spectrum system. Red has the longest and slowest wavelength, so it corresponds to the first chakra, then the chakras follow in order according to the colors of the rainbow. A good exercise for developing vision and, at the same time, harmonizing all the chakras is to focus on each of the chakras and fill this part of the body with the corresponding light. One may start either from the top or from the bottom, the main thing is to observe the sequence and give time to each chakra to be fully filled with energy.

First chakra: red

Second chakra: orange

Third chakra: yellow

Fourth chakra: green

Fifth chakra: blue

Sixth chakra: blue

Seventh chakra: purple

SAHASRARA: CROWN 

Element: thought

Color: purple

Verb: I know

Attributes: information, understanding, consciousness, meditation

Finally, we come to the end of our journey, the lotus with a thousand petals, located at the top of the head. It is the chakra of thought, consciousness and information; the most abstract and versatile level of all the chakras. Like Muladhara, whose roots are deep in the matter, Sahasrara, which means “a thousand layers,” is immersed in infinite space with its thousand petals.

The element of Sahasrara is thought, the most distinct and unmeasurable concept that expresses consciousness. Accordingly, the function of the seventh chakra is knowledge, while the other chakras are responsible for seeing, doing or feeling. It is through the upper chakra, where we store and receive information, that we pass it through the lower chakras for embodiment.

The upper chakra is characterized by an “inner” quality, unlike the outer manifestations of the lower chakras. The human brain contains about thirteen billion interconnected nerve cells, which can additionally form more connections with each other than the number of atoms in the universe. Considering that there are 100 million receptors in the body and 10 trillion synapses in the nervous system, we can conclude that the brain is 100,000 times more sensitive to the internal environment of the body than the external environment. So it is from the inside that we gain knowledge.

This “inside” is the key to a dimension that exists beyond time and space. Assuming that each chakra represents a dimension of lesser and faster vibration, we can conclude that in the upper chakra we reach a place where speed is infinite and there is no wavelength, allowing it to be everywhere at once and at the same time have no definite location. Ultimate states of consciousness are described as all-pervasive. Reducing the world to a system that does not occupy a physical dimension gives us an infinite source of its symbols. In other words, the whole world is in our heads.

The system implies order. According to the Hindu view, order is at the heart of the world order, and this order corresponds to consciousness. Consciousness, therefore, is the basis of an ordered system. The seventh chakra is the gateway to “cosmic consciousness” or “higher consciousness. These concepts denote awareness of a deeper, more inclusive level. It is the perception of metasystems, the deeper truths of our cosmic ordered system. As we project our thought images into reality, we follow the paths of order.

The upper chakra is where we explore consciousness itself, although each chakra represents a state of consciousness. During this exploration, we should remember that what we are looking for is contained within the search itself. We can find the answers not through reason, but through awareness of who and what is asking these questions.

Thought is made up of bits of information. According to our experiences, each of us creates our own information matrix. From the first glimpse of our mother’s face to the defense of a doctoral dissertation, we try to arrange information about the world into some kind of order. The very process of thinking is following the paths of order.

Kundalini is the “force” of consciousness. When it rises and falls it changes the internal order of the personal matrix, each time opening more and more possibilities of perception for the system as a whole. Each of the chakras represents a level of organization that is effective for operating at that level. Each time the Kundalini rises, there is a need to reorganize our lives according to the higher-order.

If each chakra can be thought of as a drive programmed with information relating to its immediate functions, the seventh chakra is the operating system of the entire biocomputer. It represents our belief system, the way we categorize information, and even our very ability to be conscious of it.

EXERCISE Follow the thoughts. 

Lie down or sit down in a comfortable meditative position. With any technique that works for you, bring your mind to a calm state.

Gradually begin to concentrate on the thoughts that pass through your mind. “Catch” one of them and ask yourself where it came from – what thoughts preceded it. Then get to the source of that thought. It can be something that happened years ago or something that is happening to you right now. Then go back to where the next thought came from, and so on. This will bring us to an infinite source that has no beginning.

CONCLUSION 

Altogether, the seven chakras form a ladder connecting matter and consciousness, body and mind, earth and heaven. Each of us builds this ladder as we discover these steps in ourselves.

In order for us to become whole, the ladder must be fully built. Each chakra has equal importance, and blocking one chakra can cause another part of the system to fail.

To each of us, the chakras can point out our individual strengths and weaknesses, areas in which we still need to work internally on ourselves. We must not forget that the chakras constitute a complete system, and diagnosis or work in one direction must be done in accordance with the whole.

When our chakras are open and fully functioning, we become a rainbow bridge between heaven and earth and achieve full realization.