What are chakras? As humanity continues its collective awakening more people are posing this question each day, yet there are no cookie-cutter answers.
For the benefit of my A.D.D. readers, I can summarize the concept as follows:
Chakras are literal and metaphorical portals to profound personal growth at the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual levels. Each major chakra center will help you define, understand, heal, improve, and empower a number of specific attributes or aspects of self and reality.
(Read the above paragraph again and really let it sink in!)
Sages in the ancient world suggested the human form emerged from and functioned via an intricate system of energy centers and meridians. Physicists and other scientists have posited similar notions over the past century.
Whether or not straight-laced, mainstream researchers accept the idea, fundamentals of the biological energy grid are applied daily and in numerous tangible ways by those who pursue this wisdom. You’re almost certainly familiar with acupunture and other processes that rely on interaction with energy pathways and points for healing and development. You may well also be aware of or versed in programs that allow you to vividly experience the flow of subtle energy through your body and within various physical motions; examples include Yoga, Tai Chi and Aikido. Integral to this complex and wondrous human energy grid are the centers of consciousness known as chakras.
The term chakra, according to sources fluent in Sanskrit, means vortex or spinning wheel. In the most mundane sense, these wheels are literal points along the energy paths underlying your body; however it is inappropriate to think of chakras as only points in space and time.
Earliest writings referred to the chakras as centers of consciousness, with each individual vortex associating with specific intellectual, emotional, and esoteric spheres. Over the centuries many spiritual researchers and explorers have contributed to the living wisdom of the chakra system and related energy meridians; today you can find multiple theories on the subject, each with a slight variation on content and application.
It may be ideal in the beginning to pursue one or more formal avenues of education in this area. You can do this by reading a well-reviewed book or taking a beginner’s course (online or off). Once you’ve completed an introductory examination you’ll follow your inner guidance and the instruction of others for the remainder of your life.
Both received wisdom and the experiential process are paramount to the full benefit of the chakra knowledge. We can learn a great deal from reading and listening, but ultimately we must feel and find our own connection to this essential spiritual wisdom.
Quick Overview From Aaron’s Perspective
Having sketched this preliminary image, I’ll now give you the goods on my personal philosophy of the major chakra system (short version, of course). I arrived at and continue to explore these conclusions through casual study of traditional and contemporary theories plus a tremendous amount of meditation, energy channeling, physical applications, and introspection.
While there are many individual chakra points along the energetic conduits of the body, the major seven chakra centers are found along the spine. Each chakra has a Sanskrit name and offers a very broad body of wisdom. I’ll keep things ultra simple in this article, but may delve into the deeper aspects of each center later.
Seven Major Chakra Centers
Please understand the following section is not at all intended to be a comprehensive guide to the major seven chakras. I’m only posting a superficial introduction for the benefit of readers who are new to the subject and for the review of more knowledgeable visitors.
- The base, or root chakra lies at the very bottom of the spinal column. This center represents the emergence of physical matter from the causal plane and governs such dimensions of life as survival, security, physical constitution, tactile bliss, and so forth.
- The second, or sacral chakra, is found just below the naval. Martial artists and meditators may know this center as “the one point”; by relaxing and allowing your awareness to shift into this general region you’ll quickly find the sacral chakra. Emotional processes and relationships, creativity, physical grace, mental flexibility, and like issues are the domain of this center.
- The third, or solar plexus chakra is obviously in the center of your abdomen. This chakra point holds incredible power and deals with self-knowledge and self-esteem, and the transition to higher awareness.
- The fourth, or heart chakra is found behind the sternum. This is the center of spiritual love and compassion, which is of course far more profound than romantic notions of love. In many ways this chakra begins the journey into the higher vibrations of spiritual practice.
- The fifth, or throat chakra is found at the base of your throat, and governs communication and self-expression. This center is a crucial state of growth that signifies – in many ways – the approach of enlightenment.
- The sixth, or brow chakra is also known as the third eye. This center deals with balance, willpower, and other qualities of mind, and is the gateway to all dimensions of consciousness. To attain authentic understanding of this chakra is truly to transcend the mundane reality.
- The seventh chakra is called the crown, and rests in the top center of the skull. This center is oneness with all things and is the experience many call the divine.
The seven chakras represent both a system of personal growth and a map of the life experience. From one perspective we can say the coiled, potential power known as Kundalini rises up into the body from the base chakra and travels along the spine until reaching the crown, thus signifying and facilitating the process of spiritual growth. From another point of reference it’s accurate to say we traverse the wisdom held by each chakra as we move through the years/stages of our life.
Chakra wisdom is multi-dimensional, and any discussion thereof may pertain to the physical body, emotional mind, intellect, field of subtle energy, cosmic philosophy, or spiritual realm. Like all things spiritual the chakras cannot be confined by mundane duality.
I fully understand some portions of this article will be readily understood while others will seem abstract and intangible. Such is the nature of the subtle energy body.
Other Chakra Centers Of Note
You may also benefit from being open to the experience of the following centers of awareness and power:
- Palm chakras – center of each palm
- Sole chakras – centered in each sole of foot
- Higher heart chakra – between heart and throat vortex
- Earth chakra – between feet and beneath your body
- Higher crown chakra – a foot or so above the crown chakra
At this time I’ll refrain from talking about the specific functions and processes of these “additional” centers. Just know they are available for exploration, and you may intuitively discover ways to extend or receive the flow of force via these approximate areas of reference.
I hope you’ve found this content useful. Stay tuned for a number of more specific and in-depth pieces about the chakra system and chakra centers. I’ve personally found this wisdom utterly transformational and equisite, so it’s my pleasure to share and my hope that I can properly transfer the basic concepts in word form.
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