If you’re new to working with chakras, or if you’ve never really understood what they are, you’re in for a treat! Welcome to the world of energy medicine, and the realm of infinite possibilities.
What are chakras?
Derived from the Sanskrit word for “wheel,” chakras are spinning energy centers throughout your body that respond to what is happening around you. Each has its own associated characteristics, and is connected to a color vibrational frequency.
Chakras are concentrations of vital life force within the body formed when lines of energy running through the body overlap and cross. For thousands of years, mystics have worked with and studied chakras and incorporated them into a wide variety of spiritual practices. Working with chakra energy in a positive way has been linked to increased lifespan; physical, mental, and emotional health; and overall personal well-being.
Each chakra is linked to organs within the body, emotional and mental attitudes, physical health or disease, colors, sounds, psychic abilities, and many other things.
Chakras are concentrated points of energy within us, and when they are healthy, vital life energy flows through them unimpeded. When this happens, their colors are bright and clear.
The opposite occurs during energetic imbalances; their colors are more dense, dark, and dull.
The good news is that you can use the rainbow of colors that they represent to bring them back into balance in order to improve your mental and spiritual health. And who doesn’t want that?
Healing your chakras
Each of the 7 major and 2 minor chakras has its own individual emotional and spiritual benefits — and ALL are in some way associated with happiness and creativity.
If you’re feeling down or struggling with creative blocks, examining and attending to your chakras is the first step to increased joy and productivity.
Use the below list to understand and connect with each chakra to break out of a funk, or simply power up your happiness, love, success and creativity!
Getting to know your main chakras:
1. Root Chakra
Color: RED
Your root chakra affects your sense of stability and security. When blocked it makes you fearful, and this insecurity can be paralyzing to both your emotional well-being and creative output. Try taking a walk outside to reconnect yourself to nature, strengthening your body with meats and proteins, or engaging in a quick meditation exercise to clear your root chakra.
2. Sacral Chakra
Color: ORANGE
The sacral chakra is your center of sexuality and creativity, and it opens you up to new experiences. Often, creative enterprise means exploring the unknown, so attending to your sacral chakra can have a huge effect on your willingness to take the leap towards something new. Surround yourself with the color orange, and light a jasmine or sandalwood candle to inspire creativity and joy.
3. Solar Plexus Chakra
Color: YELLOW
Your solar plexus chakra is associated with self-confidence and power. When it is blocked, you might be overly concerned with others’ judgment, but when it is too open you may become judgmental yourself — both traits that can impede happiness and creativity. Make sure to take care of your physical body to keep the solar plexus chakra running smoothly. Keep your digestive system healthy by eating lots of fibers and grains, and engage in exercise that makes you feel powerful.
4. Heart Chakra
Color: GREEN
Love and compassion stem from the heart chakra, which is activated by the color green. Both self-love and love for others are key components of living a happy and meaningful life. To engage the heart chakra, try calling a friend you haven’t heard from in a while, or volunteering with a charitable organization that means something to you. Any chest opening yoga poses are also a great way to open yourself to emotional healing, which will ultimately improve your creativity.
5. Throat Chakra
Color: BLUE
The throat chakra is tied to your ability to communicate. Communication roadblocks often affect creativity when working with others, and poor communication can impact your personalrelationships and happiness. Keep your throat chakra balanced by eating citrus fruits, or meditating with blue and yellow crystals. And don’t be afraid to practice a big presentation or tough conversation on your own in front of a mirror — this will give you confidence and ensure that you are communicating with dignity and respect.
6. Third Eye Chakra
Color: INDIGO
Your third eye chakra controls your intuition and decision-making — skills that are key to joy and creativity. Having a balanced third eye chakra will help you with creative problem solving both in your professional and personal life. Lavender flavors or scents encourage seeing the big picture, as do forward bending yoga poses. A quick de-cluttering of your workspace or living area can also lower your stress levels and help you detach from a lifestyle of materialism.
7. Crown Chakra
Color: WHITE – LAVENDER
The crown chakra represents spiritual connection and well-being. When you are feeling down, a short walk in the sunshine can help clear your crown chakra and turn your mood around. If you live in an urban environment, plan a trip to a rural area to reconnect with your own spirituality and your place in the wider universe. For a quick stimulation of the crown chakra, try meditation, a sunlight lamp, or a nice long run.
Minor Chakras:
Hand Chakras
The secondary chakras located in the palm of your hands let you give and receive energy. Blocked hand chakras are often associated with creative blocks, whether mental or physical, and with difficulty connecting to other people. Using your hands to make art can help you activate the hand chakras. Try a pottery or sculpting class, or pick up a pen and do some sketching. You can also attend to your hand chakras by using Reiki hand positions to use during meditation.
Earth Star Chakra
The earth star chakra is sometimes known as the Super Root, and is located about twelve inches below your feet. Think of it as the cord that connects you to the energy of the earth, and to your soul’s past incarnations. This chakra can become blocked when overwhelmed with the frantic pace of modern life, so taking a break from your computer can help you to clear it. Exercises focused on interconnectedness, such as tree meditation, can also strengthen your earth star chakra and encourage contentment and happiness.
It can be tough to break out of a creative block or bad mood, but taking time to balance your chakras can help you handle pressure and live a healthy, productive life.
And don’t forget to check in on your spiritual and emotional health when things get tough!
To go a little deeper, create a habit that heals and reshape your inner world with twenty one days of chakra balancing with the Meditation Challenge. It takes just five minutes per day and yields big results.
Reference material: Amy Leigh Mercree article for Your Tango