The word Chakra comes from the Sanskrit word “cakra” that literally means ‘wheel’ or ‘circle’. 

The wheels or circles (Chakras) are not physical like bones or skin but energy fields or centers of consciousness. 

The function of the chakras is to spin and draw in this Universal Life Force Energy to keep the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health of the body in balance.  Chakras are referred to as “open” or “closed”, meaning that they are spinning or not spinning and in balance or out of balance.  When a Chakra is in balance it means that there is health in that particular area of your body and a Chakra out of balance points to the opposite.

Each Chakra corresponds to aspects of your emotional and spiritual health as well.  For a Chakra to be out of balance would mean that an aspect of your emotional and spiritual power is not operating in accordance to your optimum health.

There are 7 main Chakras (although many more do exist) that are vertically aligned and run from the base of the spine to the crown of the head.

The 7 Main Chakras are:

v     The Root Chakra – Muladhara

v     The Sacral Chakra – Swadhisthana

v     The Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura

v     The Heart Chakra – Anahata

v     The Throat Chakra – Vishuddha

v     The Brow Chakra – Ajna

v     The Crown Chakra – Sahasrara

Location:  In the perineum at the base of the spine

Color:  Red

Element:  Earth

Key Words:  Instinct, Survival, Security, Fight or Flight Response, Patience, Manifestation

Parts of Body: Feet, Knees, Legs, Hips, Spine, Bones, Immune System

Physical Complaints:  Lower Back Pain, Autoimmune Deficiency Conditions, Arthritis, Obesity, Hemorrhoids, Constipation

Issues:  Depression, Addiction, Abandonment Fears

Open and Balanced:  Courageous, Grounded, Strong Will to Live, Organized, Stable, Structured, Able to Stay in Present Moment, Good Deal of Physical Energy and Stamina, Tribal Honor Code, Family Bonding, Able to Feel at Home, Able to Stand Up for Yourself and Loved Ones, Able to Take Action, Contain a Strong Foundation

Unbalanced:  Physical Violence, Fearful, Rigid, Procrastinating, Staying Stuck, Ungrounded, Low on Energy, Insecurity, Physically Weak and Sickly, Acting like a Victim, No Will to Live

Ideas to Restore Balance: 

v     Clean and Organize Your Space

v     Buy a Calendar

v     Join a Support Group

v     Get Plenty of Exercise / Physical Movement

v     Try a Grounding Exercise

v     Wear Red or Decorate Your Home with Something Red

v     Work with the Earth (Garden, Plant Trees)

v     Start a Savings Account and Add to it Bit by Bit

v     Make One Goal a Week and Accomplish it

v     Spend time with Your Family or Friends

v     Get Involved with the Community

v     Take Up Meditation

v     Listen to Drumming Music or Attend a Drumming Circle

v     Make a List of Things You are Grateful For

v     Remember that You have Choices in Life

v     Walk Barefoot on the Earth

v     Take Responsibility for Your Choices

v     Take a Martial Arts Class

Location:  2 inches below navel and 2 inches below pelvis

Color:  Orange

Element:  Water

Key Words: Emotion, Sexual Energy, Creativity, Pleasure, Abundance

Parts of Body: Sexual Organs, Large Intestine, Muscles, Appendix, Bladder, Hip

Physical Complaints:  Lower Back Pain, Fertility Problems, Gynecological Problems, Fibroids, Cysts, Muscle Cramps/Spasms, Arthritis

Issues:  Sexual Abuse, Addiction, Control

Open and Balanced: Able to Express Oneself and One’s Emotions, Confident, Intuitive, Healthy Sexuality, Joy for Life

Unbalanced:  Unable to Express Emotions, Unhealthy Sexual Practice, Lack of  Flexibility / Creativity, No Joy, Rigidity

Ideas to Restore Balance:

v     Visit an Art Museum or Gallery

v     Eat Orange Foods, Wear Orange, Look at Orange

v     Take up Belly Dancing or Latin Dance

v     Go Swimming or Visit a Body of Water

v     Treat Yourself to a Manicure or Pedicure

v     Do Something that Brings You Pleasure

v     Honor Your Body

v     Enjoy Yourself

v     Express Yourself through Writing or Art

v     Buy Yourself Flowers and Put them Right Where You Can See Them

Location:  Directly over the sternum and over the stomach

Color:  Yellow

Element:  Fire

Key Words:  Power, Self Esteem, Personality, Boundaries, Ego

Parts of Body: Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder, Pancreas, Small Intestine, Adrenal Glands, Kidneys, Middle of Spine

Physical Complaints:  Indigestion, Stomach Acid, Diabetes, Liver Problems, Fevers, Hepatitis, Ulcers

Issues:  Anorexia, Bulimia, Easily Intimidated, Fear of what Others Think of You,

Open and Balanced:  Healthy Sense of Self Worth and Self Esteem, Assertive Personality, Own Your Own Power, Able to Set Healthy Boundaries

Unbalanced:  Excessive Worry Over What Others Think, Loss of Personal Power, No Boundaries, Aggressive or Passive Aggressive Rather then Assertive

Ideas to Restore Balance:

v     Use Relaxation Techniques to Minimize Stress

v     Practice Setting Healthy Boundaries

v     Accept that you are Valuable

v     Write a List of Things You Value or Appreciate About Yourself

v     Honor Yourself

v     Reduce Time Spent with Toxic People

v     Rent a Funny Movie

v     Commit to Sleeping on Things Before You Say Yes

v     Take Yourself Out for Dinner and a Movie

v     Do the Things that Nourish Your Self Esteem

v     Accomplish Something

v     Screen Your Phone Calls

v     Volunteer

Location:  Middle of the chest

Color:  Green, Pink or Gold

Symbol:  Crescent Moon

Element:  Air

Key Words:  Love, Peace, Devotion, Compassion, Healing, Forgiveness

Parts of Body: Heart, Lungs, Circulatory System, Shoulders, Arms & Hands, Ribs & Breasts

Physical Complaints:  Breast Cancer, Bronchial Pneumonia, Lung Cancer, Heart Attack, Upper Back Pain, Shoulder Pain

Issues:  Grief, Anger, Hate, Jealousy, Betrayal

Open and Balanced:  Unconditional Love, Able to See the Good in All People,

Unbalanced:  Drowning in Grief, Anger, or Jealousy, Inability to Forgive

Ideas to Restore Balance:

v     Volunteer With the Elderly

v     Meditate

v     Forgive Someone (Including Yourself)

v     Send Flowers to a Friend

v     Make Amends with Those You Have Hurt

v     Give a Great Big Hug

v     Offer to do Something Without Expecting Payment

v     Get a Pet

v     Tell the People You Love that You Love Them

v     Smile to Strangers

v     Make an Effort to Face Your Grief, Anger, Jealousy or Hate

Location:  Between the eyebrows at your third eye point

Color:  Indigo

Element: Time

Key Words:  Wisdom, Knowledge, Discernment, Imagination, Intuition

Parts of Body: Pineal Glands, Left and Right Cerebral Hemispheres Mind                                                  Function, Eyes, Ears, Nose

Physical Complaints:  Brain Tumor, Dyslexia, Insomnia, Migraine Headaches, Glaucoma, Seizures

Issues:  Psychic Overload, Mental Exhaustion, Learning Difficulties

Open and Balanced:  Wise, Able to Discern, Working Intuition, Able to Learn from Experience

Unbalanced:  Unable to Listen or Hear the Ideas Others Have, Restless, Anxious, Making the Same Mistakes Again and Again, Unable to Connect to the Spiritual or Intuitive Side of Things

Ideas to Restore Balance:

v     Take a Class

v     Read a Book on a Subject You Have Never Explored

v     Say “No” When You Mean “No”

v     Make a List of Challenging Experiences in Your Life and Record The Wisdom You Acquired From Each Experience

v     Daydream

v     Visualize Your Life in One Year, Five Years, Ten Years

v     Listen to Your Gut

v     Start a Book Where You Record Intuitions

v     See a Psychic or Intuitive

v     Write a Fictional Story and Let Your Imagination Run Wild

Location:  Top of the Scull (Baby’s Soft Spot) or just above the head

Color:  Violet or White

Element:  Space

Key Words:  Spirituality, Beauty, Bliss

Parts of Body: Pituitary Gland, Central Nervous System, Esoteric Anatomy, Upper Skull, Skin, Cerebral Cortex

Physical Complaints:  Paralysis, Multiple Sclerosis, Color Blindness

Issues:  Learning Difficulties, Nervous Disorders, Alcoholism, Depression, Neurosis, Insomnia, Alzheimer’s

Open and Balanced:  You Feel at Peace or at One with All, Able to See Beauty, Feel Connection to the Greater Whole, Have Faith and Trust

Unbalanced:  You are Disoriented, Obsessive Worry, Lack Spiritual Direction, Feel Alone

Ideas to Restore Balance:

v     Go Hiking, Take a Trip to the Ocean or Spend Time in Nature

v     Go to a Church or Temple

v     Practice Ritual in Your Life

v     Open Yourself to the Love of Your Higher Power

v     Create Time to Experience the Joy that is Around You

v     Pray to Whomever You Want to Pray to

v     Write a Letter to Your Higher Power or Higher Self

v     Meditate

v     Bless Your Food Before You Eat

v     Read a Religious or Spiritual Text that appeals to You

v     Rent a Spiritual Film or Watch a Religious Channel

v     Attend an Inspirational Talk