Each year, U.S. consumers spend nearly $30 billion in various forms of medication. For those interested in alternative or complementary forms of treatment, it’s important to first understand the seven chakras and how they affect your body and soul. This beginner’s guide to the seven chakras will help you begin your spiritual journey on the right foot.
What Are Chakras?
Originating in spiritual traditions of Eastern cultures, many consider chakras to be the basis of human existence. In these traditions, a chakra represents a center of energy that aids the human body in a variety of processes, from physical to emotional control.
The word chakra has its origins in Sanskrit, meaning “wheel” due to its association as a spinning vortex of energy interacting with different systems within the body. Though some presume there to be 12 chakras, most beliefs center around seven main chakras, each aligned with a specific area of the body.
The Seven Chakras & How They Effect the Mind, Body and Soul
Root Chakra
Starting off our beginner’s guide to the seven chakras is the root chakra, which is located at the base of the spine. Believers commonly associate this chakra with the color red and base its energy on earth elements.
This chakra helps us establish our spiritual roots, grounding us to the earth and providing us with a sense of security that’s necessary to form a strong foundation for our lives.
This chakra is also commonly associated with our most basic human needs, such as food, shelter, sleep, and survival. Because the root chakra is such an important anchor for your spiritual energy to the physical world, if it’s imbalanced, you may experience feelings of disillusion.
Additionally, a misaligned root chakra can lead to feelings of insecurity and your behaviors may become dominated by fear. Grounding, earth-centered activities can help you heal and open your root chakra. Hiking, gardening, and other activities that involve communing with nature will help you re-center yourself with the earth and open your root chakra.
You can also use red and black crystals like Garnet, Red Jasper, and Black Tourmaline to balance your root chakra.
Sacral Chakra
You can find the second chakra just a few inches below your belly button, in the center of your lower belly. Often associated with the color orange, the sacral chakra affects our body’s emotional responses, as well as creativity and sensuality.
This chakra derives its power from water, causing it to have a flowing and highly flexible energy. The sacral chakra is also responsible for feelings of pleasure, which can be triggered by any of our five senses.
As such, an open sacral chakra allows us to better tap into each of our senses so that we may experience the world in a more pleasurable manner. Conversely, a closed sacral chakra can lead to feelings of numbness and apathy for the world around us.
Awaken your senses and open your sacral chakra through vibrant scents or tactile activities. This will get your body’s energy flowing again and you will be able to experience the world with a new sense of wonder.
You can also use orange crystals like Carnelian, Tiger’s Eye, and Leopardskin Jasper to balance your sacral chakra.
Solar Plexus Chakra
Just above the sacral chakra, in the upper section of the belly, lies the solar plexus chakra. Individuals associate this chakra with the color yellow which, due to its base element of fire, may sometimes appear in a golden yellow or yellow-red hue.
This bright and fiery chakra is frequently associated with independence, confidence, and self-discipline. The solar plexus chakra has a strong connection to your sense of personal identity. As such, it can have a large impact on your chosen life goals and the steps you take to reach them.
An imbalanced solar plexus chakra can manifest itself in a few different ways. It may cause a lack of ambition or loss of purpose or it may cause you to exert excessive control over your life, leading you to obsess over minor details.
Introspective activities such as meditation can help you re-center your solar plexus chakra and establish an even stronger sense of self.
You can also use yellow crystals like Citrine, Yellow Jasper, and Yellow Quartz to balance your solar plexus chakra.
Heart Chakra
As one may expect, the heart chakra resides in the center of your chest, right near the heart. Rather than the typical pink and red hue characterization of hearts, the heart chakra is instead associated with the color green.
This chakra’s base element is air, creating energy filled with breath, spaciousness, and connection with all things—earthly and divine. Fittingly, the heart chakra is responsible for our feelings of love and connection and can have a strong influence on our personal relationships.
If your heart chakra is improperly balanced, you may begin to experience feelings of jealousy or a fear of intimacy, which can severely hinder your romantic…
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