Sacred Sunday: The 7 Chakras

A beginner's guide to the chakras and their applications in our lives and health

Jun 16, 2024

Happy Sacred Sunday!🕊️💛

Do you know why systems of healing and spirituality like meditation, ayurveda, and yoga are heavily promoted to improve mental health?

These practices are closely connected to the concept of chakras and are believed to affect the flow of energy throughout our bodies. Methods such as these have been historically used to balance our physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Chakra—a Sanskrit word meaning “disk” or “wheel”

Beliefs about chakras originated in India over a thousand years ago, rooted in Hindu and Buddhist spiritual traditions. These concepts are referenced in ancient texts like the Vedas and the Yoga Upanishads.

Although there are over 100 chakras in and around the body, seven primary chakras are situated along the spine of our astral bodies, from the pelvis to the head, each linked to specific nerves and organs.

“Out of these 114 chakras, two are outside the physical body. Of the remaining 112, only 108 can actually be worked upon, the remaining four just flower as a consequence. The number 108 has manifested in the human system because it is a significant number in the making of the solar system. The distance between the earth and the sun is 108 times the diameter of the sun. The distance between the earth and the moon is 108 times the diameter of the moon. The diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the earth. And hence, 108 is significant in various spiritual practices.”

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Chakras & Health

Understanding the chakra system offers a roadmap to identify which areas of your body and life require attention. Certain lifestyles, experiences, and environments can block the free flow of energy in a chakra, leading to imbalances that can manifest as various physical and emotional symptoms. These energy blockages can also impact other aspects of your life, including relationships and careers.

Common practices used to unblock, balance, align, and heal chakras:

Meditation and breathing exercises: I like to picture a light, spinning wheel, or growing warmth around the area associated with each chakra.
Yoga: Teaches that prana, or life energy, moves through your body and connects you to the universe. Certain yoga techniques and poses can help balance chakras.
Reiki: A system of energy healing that began in Japan. With Reiki, a practitioner helps direct the flow of energy and light through your body and unblocks areas where energy might be stuck.
Ayurveda: A holistic system of health care based on ancient Indian texts. Ayurveda uses herbs, plants, metals, yoga, meditation, physical and spiritual exercises, and other treatments to balance chakras and improve well-being.
Color therapy and crystal work: Some people will look at or visualize a color or hold a crystal directly on the area of their body near the chakra they want to balance.

silhouette of person standing on seashore during sunset — Photo by Raimond Klavins on Unsplash

As I practiced balancing my energy, I focused on my lower chakras—the root, sacral, and solar plexus, which are key to our sense of security, creativity, and personal power. I realized unresolved issues and blockages in these areas were significantly contributing to my anxiety. Through grounding exercises, meditation, and mindful movement, I felt a shift in my energy, leading to greater stability and confidence. This holistic approach has not only alleviated my anxiety but also empowered me to live a more balanced and fulfilling life.

You can join me as I continue working with specific chakras each day of the week with the following routine…