My introduction to the chakras is for anyone interested in learning about chakras & how to work with them to get your energy humming!
I used to think chakras were a bit out there, not really for me, but a few years back I started doing some regular chakra meditations and – wow – I realised there is definitely something to this stuff.
Whereas I had been feeling so burnt out and lost, I started to feel more energy in my body. The more I practiced these meditations, the better I felt. Around that time I also started my Reiki training and we focused a lot on the chakra energy system, so I started to get a better understanding of what they represented.
Still, I had to wonder – are they real, or just hocus-pocus??
I’ll tell you what I know; for many thousands of years people have been writing, studying, and sharing information about the chakras or about energy centres in the body. In Indian culture and in yoga history, there has been mentions of these energy centres dating back to the B.C. period. So they’re not a “hippy, new age” theory that popped up recently.
What are they?
Seven main points of energy convergence in the body, plus a number of secondary points, in Sanskrit they are a “wheel of light”. Chakras are part of our energy body, but correspond to various points of our physical body as well, they can affect our physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
You may be able to feel your energy field by rubbing both hands together for a few seconds and then holding them apart, about 5 centimetres or so from each other. Feel a burning or warm sensation? It might be slightly buzzy, or stinging – that’s your energy you are sensing.
When you learn that you can master your own energy field, you find a level of empowerment and vitality that enables you to find and fulfil your life purpose. Understanding your energy system is the first tool to healing what may be out of balance or deficient in your life.
Ambika Wauters
Whether you think they’re made-up or not, I believe this gives us a framework to evaluate how we are feeling in many areas of life and the body, and ways to work with the feelings, emotions, beliefs, and stories that arise.
Overview of the 7 Major Chakras:
These are the 7 major chakra points and their related aspects, there are also secondary points such as the hands and feet, and I will delve further into each chakra in a series of related posts.
Crown ✵ Sahasrara
Connection, Inspiration, Higher Consciousness
Located:
Top of the Head
Colour:
Violet, Gold, White
Third Eye/Brow ✵ Ajna
Intuition, Vision, Discernment/Perception
Located:
Forehead
Colour:
Indigo
Throat ✵ Vishuddha
Expression, Communication, Truth
Located:
Throat
Colour:
Blue
Heart ✵ Anahata
Love, Balance, Integration Point of Upper and Lower Chakras
Located:
Chest/Heart
Colour:
Green
Solar Plexus ✵ Manipura
Personal Power, Energy, Self Belief
Located:
Above the navel, below the ribs
Colour:
Yellow
Sacral ✵ Svadhisthana
Creativity, Vitality, Emotional Security
Located:
Below the Navel
Colour:
Orange
Base/Root ✵ Muladhara
Foundations, Feeling Safe, Grounded
Located:
Base of the spine
Colour:
Red
Chakras in a Reiki Session:
During your session, I focus primarily on your chakra points, as well as a couple of other areas around the head, and the knees and feet. Reiki is all about restoring balance and activating your own healing systems in all areas of your bodies; physical, emotional, mental, spiritual.
After your session we will chat about any specifics that may have come to my attention, with some ideas for you to focus on.
I always suggest that over the following weeks, you take notice of any patterns or emotions that may be appearing in your life; there may be particular themes to your thoughts, a feeling of lightness or more hope about a situation, or some emotions that are ready to be expressed. These can be sad, angry, or resentful thoughts, grief about an old situation, or towards a person in your life.
Don’t try to push them away or “get rid of them”, if they are there, just allow that – have a cry if that’s what is needed, or write about it then rip it up and throw it away. If you put up resistance to these thoughts or feelings, they’ll just keep coming at you; accept, let go.
5 Simple Ways to Work With the Chakras:
Read: Start with this book, The Complete Guide to Chakras for loads of easy to read information about each chakra point.
Meditate: Insight Timer is a free app with thousands of great meditations, try this one by Davidji.
Move: Yoga and chakras go together like green juice and health bloggers. This infographic highlights a few poses for each chakra, and there are plenty of more detailed books or online yoga videos just a google search away. Also try this book by Anodea Judith, Chakra Yoga.
Colour: Each point has an associated colour to work with, I love these cards by Inna Segal. Also work with crystals in the relevant colour, small tumbled stones are perfect to slip into your pockets or bra, or wear around your neck. You can put them under your pillow at night, or by the bedside.
Sound: Find a sound meditation near you, I love Healing Delight in Caulfield, which combines sound, colour, chakras, and oils. The Davidji meditation I linked to above also includes the chakra vibrations for each point, you can do that at home!
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