Chakra Balancing and Chakra Healing
This information has been collected from many books and Web sites, and from my own knowledge and experience
Chakras are a part of our subtle energy body. From teachings of the Native American first Wheel of Life parallel the Hindu,Yogic and Ayurvedic Schools, to Tibetan, Egyptian, Peruvian, and Chinese Medicinal systems,, chakra wisdom. Since the wisdom is universal, these same teachings appear in diverse cultures throughout the world and in all times, in different ways. The teachings help us identify those cycles that we have completed and point us in the direction to complete the ones we still need to work on to give our lives new direction and meaning.
The Chakras are part of a complex system of energies that compose our subtle bodies. I say bodies, because, when understanding the Chakra system, we understand that there are multiple layers and ‘dimensions’ of our being which unfold, and interplay through the Chakra system. These various ‘dimensions’ of our being resonate at different frequencies. Each Chakra is an inter-dimensional gateway which accesses, and integrates our level of understanding, function, and evolution at every level of our being, from physical wellness and survival, to complete awakening as spiritual beings in a complex universe.
Chakra Healing and Balancing - The flow and strength of our chakra energy system have an impact on our overall mental, physical and emotional health. Some cultures identify more than seven, some less. Along with the primary, there are as many as 122 secondary chakras in your body.
The word chakra means “wheel” in Sanskrit, though these are not like any wheels we’ve ever seen. Chakra energy spins in a clockwise direction as it moves the energy of our body out to the aura field around us, and it spins counter clockwise to pull energy from our external world into our body. It is the vibrational frequency of our chakras that determines the direction our energy will flow as they either draw energy into our body or release it outward. Into the universe.
When one (or more) of the chakra is blocked and the energy does not flow harmoniously through them, or it is wide open, it will result in imbalance that is manifested in all areas of our life.
Chakra healing is a method for balancing the Chakras within the body. It removes blockages and calms overactive Chakras. When in balance the Chakras enable smooth energy flow from root to crown. It connects you to the earth through the root and enlightenment through the crown.
The role of the chakra system is to help regulate the human energy field, commonly known as the aura. The aura is a dynamic, energetic matrix, which includes the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of our being.
Every human being has seven major chakras and each one influences an aspect of our lives. From our instincts, sexuality and personal power through to how we love, communicate, use our intuition and connect to our deepest source of spirituality.
It's not necessary, however, for our chakras to be perfectly, completely balanced, all at the same level of openness and activation. For most people, one or more chakras stand out as being stronger than the others. This is normal and not at all undesirable.
When you discover the power and the energy that resides within you, it is like coming home.
Chakra balancing, in concert with other techniques, often provides a great deal of emotional healing and spiritual healing there are also many techniques that you yourself can use for chakra balancing. Keep in mind that the way to make any energy-work method effective is to do it mindfully, with sacred intention to heal. In other words, it's the intention rather than the exact method that's important.
N0. 1 – Muladhara (Base Chakra)
This is the chakra located at the bottom of your spine.
Muladhara is associated with the earth element and directly linked to your ability to dig in and feel firmly rooted in your life, this is where we draw our life force energy from.
When we do yoga, we are more focused on the muladhara than anything else because if you stabilize this, the rest is easy to create. The root chakra provides the foundation on which we build our life. It supports us in growing and feeling safe into exploring all the aspects of life. It is related to our feeling of safety and security, whether it’s physical or regarding our bodily needs or metaphorical regarding housing and financial safety. To sum it up, the first chakra questions are around the idea of survival and safety. The root chakra is where we ground ourselves into the earth and anchor our energy into the manifest world.
Sanskrit name: Muladhara - root support Element: Earth Color: Red Shape: Square Petals of the lotus: Four
characteristics:
Security, safety, Survival ,Basic needs (food, sleep, shelter, self-preservation, etc.)
Physicality, physical identity and aspects of self, Grounding, support and foundation for living our lives
Affirmation for the Root Chakra:
I am safe in the world around me. I belong in this world and am a part of mother-earth. I am at peace with my surroundings, with the people and the events that occur.
Color of the Root Chakra:
The root is associated with the color red. Picturing a red lotus flower at the base of your spine will begin to balance it. Lighting red candles while focusing on your root chakra can also have this effect.
Crystal Therapy for the Root Chakra:
Azurite, Bloodstone, Chrysocolla, Obsidian, Golden Yellow Topaz, Black Tourmaline, Carnelian, Citrine, Red Jasper, Smokey Quartz.
Nutrition for the Root Chakra: Red Foods, such as red apples, strawberries, red cabbage. Ginger, carrots, or beets, and foods that are high in protein, such as eggs, meat, beans, nuts.
Aromatherapy/Essential Oils for the Root Chakra:
Sandalwood, Cedar, Rosewood, Ginger, Cloves, Black pepper, Rosemary.
Healing the Root Chakra with Nature:. Simply getting out and experiencing the sounds and smells of Mother Nature will have a positive effect on this chakra. Sitting on the grass, under a tree is an ideal spot to sit and allow yourself to absorb these earthly energies!
Sound Therapy for the Root Chakra: The root vibrates in harmony to “C” Note. Additionally chanting “LAM” will have a positive effect on this chakra!
Chakra Balancing with Tibetan Singing Bowls and Solfeggio Harmonics:
#2 Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra)
This is the second chakra which is located somewhere around 3 fingers beneath your navel, in the lower abdomen. In Sanskrit, Svadhisthana is often translated as dwelling in a place of the self and it is closely related to the root center. However, the energy here is different from that of the root chakra. This chakra is also extremely important and vital for your well-being. Its color is orange. Associated with the water element, it’s characterized by movement and flow in our emotions and thoughts. It supports personal expansion and the formation of identity through relating to others and to the world. The gift of this chakra is experiencing our lives through feelings and sensations, the center of feeling, emotion, pleasure, sensuality, intimacy, and connection. On one hand sexuality is magnified and glorified, and on the other hand it is rejected. No wonder we have so many issues with our passion center, the wellspring of feelings, enjoyment, and sensuality. This results in either blocked or excessive second chakra issues.
Your entire sexual impulse is originated here The sexual and life-force energy are derived from this chakra It’s also connected with your most powerful emotions . Personally, you’ll discover you have unlimited creative power; you’ll learn how to cultivate a healthy relationship to pleasure; and you’ll gain insight into your default reactions and deepest emotions. With others, you’ll learn how to express yourself more skillfully and how to begin setting healthy boundaries.
Due to stress in any layer of the body (physical, mental, emotional and energetic) you can slow down, stagnate or go completely into overdrive. If you've had a very unpleasant sexual experience in your younger years that caused you great emotional and/or mental stress, it may still be affecting your life on some level. Strong emotions sometimes get stuck in our system on a vibrational level.
Element: Water Color: Orange Shape: Circle with crescent Petals of the lotus: Six
Mental exercises to strengthen Svadhisthana Chakra: Practice your sacred truth and honor others. Allow yourself to have a beginners mind, non-judgment, acceptance, patience and trust the process.
Affirmation for the Sacral Chakra:
I live life passionately, with good health and vitality. I am unafraid to be myself. I am confident and am achieving my dreams!
The Navel Chakra is associated with the color orange! – The vibration of the color orange can help this chakra come back into alignment. Lighting orange candles, or picturing a bright orange (or anything orange) while focusing on your naval chakra, will begin to balance it.
Crystal Therapy for the Sacral Chakra:
Hematite, Orange Carnelian, Amber, Orange Calcite, Citrine, Blue Jasper, Red Jasper, Topaz.
Nutrition for the Sacral Chakra:
Almonds, Cinnamon, Strawberries, Melon, Coconut, Oranges, Mandarins, Water
Aromatherapy/Essential Oils for the Sacral Chakra:
Jasmine, Rose, Ylang ylang, Sandalwood, Clary Sage.
Balancing the Sacral Chakra with Nature:
The Svadisthana’s element is Water. Sitting by water whether it be a lake, river or ocean and absorbing the energy will help with its proper alignment.
Sound Therapy for the Sacral Chakra:
The note “D” is what the Naval chakra vibrates to; BA being chanted to in “D” will begin to balance this chakra!
Chakra Balancing with Tibetan Singing Bowls and Solfeggio Harmonics:
N0. 3 – Manipura (Solar Plexus)
This third chakra is responsible for your self-esteem and for your personal power. It is colored yellow and there are a number of other associated characteristics with it: Located around the navel in the area of the solar plexus and up to the breastbone, it is a source of personal power and governs self-esteem, warrior energy, and the power of transformation. The Manipura chakra also controls metabolism and digestion.
When you feel self-confident, have a strong sense of purpose, and are self-motivated, your third chakra is open and healthy. If your third chakra is out of balance, you can suffer from low self-esteem, have difficulty making decisions, and may have anger or control issues. The element is fire and the color is yellow, bright like the sun.
Sanskrit name: Manipura (jeweled city) Element: Fire Color: Yellow Shape: Triangle (downward-pointing)
Petals of the lotus: Ten
Affirmation for the Solar plexus:
I am confident in all that I do. I am successful and release my creative energy into this Reality, effortlessly. I effectively manifest the deep desires of my soul. I am capable. My needs are important. I can solve any problem that comes up. I respect myself. I stand up for myself and what I believe in.
Color of the Solar plexus:
The Manipura is associated with the color yellow. Picturing a beautiful yellow sunflower where the chakra is located can have an instant effect. Yellow Candles or surrounding yourself with pictures of yellow things can begin to bring this chakra into balance. You will feel a warm glowing from the Manipura when this begins to happen!
Crystal Therapy for the Solar plexus:
Malachite, Jasper, Tiger’s Eye, Citrine, Yellow Tourmaline, Golden Beryl, Rhodochrosite
Nutrition for the Solar plexus:
Bananas, granola, and grains such as bread, pasta, rice, flax, sunflower seeds. Dairy such as cheese and yogurt, and spices that include ginger, melissa, chamomile, turmeric,
Aromatherapy/Essential Oils for the Solar plexus:
Rose, rosewood, sandalwood, chamomile, rosemary, myrrh, frankincense.
Healing the Solar plexus with Nature:
The Solar plexus’ Element is Fire. Taking a walk out in the sun is extremely beneficial. Sitting in front of a campfire, or fireplace can have an instant healing effect.
Sound Therapy for the Solar plexus:
The note “E” is what the Manipura vibrates to; Chanting RA, in “E” will begin to bring the chakra into balance!
Tibetan Singing Bowls with Solfeggio Harmonics:
N0. 4 – Anahata (Heart Chakra)
The location of the forth chakra is also obvious, it’ right at the heart. The most common association with this chakra is your decision-making ability – “follow your heart”. It is colored green and it has the following characteristics:
Make decisions based on your higher self
The center of your emotions for love and compassion
Psychic healing is originated from this chakra
from which love, joy, happiness, and compassion emanate from. It also allows us to feel sorrow, sadness, anger, and lust, all of which are feelings of the lower heart chakra – but essential in understanding ourselves in this World, so that we may overcome them and move to the Higher Heart, where Pure, Unconditional Love exists.
It is the chakra of yang, or positive energy, connecting the lower chakras to the higher ones and is very important in your spiritual healing and evolutionary development. When it is open fully, the Heart Chakra becomes what the Buddhists call Mahakaruna, A Channel for Universal Compassion – Our True Self. It is here where we invite this Infinite Love to flow through us, allowing it to heal ourselves and others. The lesson of the Heart is that we first must Love and Accept ourselves before we can Love Others.
When your heart chakra is in balance:
You will feel a great compassion for all living creatures, and will recognize their amazing intelligence! You will be kind, caring, understand, joyous and outgoing, feeling completely at ease with yourself and the people in your life. You will understand others and accept them for who they are; you will not judge or be critical of their actions. Spending time alone is something you do not mind, and you are not rushing into one relationship after another, in fact, you would rather wait for the “right” one to come to you – because you know it will come to you when the time is right.
Over-active Heart Chakra:
If your heart chakra is over-active you will be ruled by your emotions; sadness, anger, grief, despair, greediness and happiness will come over you with no or little control. You may be manipulative, over critical, and judgmental of yourself and others. Your love may have conditions, “I will only love you if you are this way….” and you are more likely than not a “people pleaser”, afraid that you will not be liked or accepted by others around you. You may find yourself in a relationship with a partner where you are always giving but not receiving, always forgiving, and “cleaning up” after them, whether it be emotionally, or physically. Co-dependency can result from this, and you may find it hard to let go, of any relationship, that no longer serves your Highest Good.
Under-active Heart Chakra:
When your heart chakra is under-active you will probably be very negative in your thinking and may find it very difficult to keep a positive outlook on life. You may feel unloved, unworthy and unappreciated, and this will manifest in the world around you, only confirming these “beliefs” about yourself. It is very likely that with an under-active chakra that you’re choosing the people you love, and the people you do not love. You have a hard time trusting others, and may have a difficult time “letting” them in, keeping yourself at a distance.
Sanskrit name: Anahata - unstuck Element: Air Color: Green Shape: Crescent moon Petals of the lotus: Twelve
Affirmation for the Heart Chakra:
Love is the answer to everything. I am an infinite being full of Divine Love, which I give freely and openly accept from others!
Color of the Heart Chakra:
The heart chakra is associated with the color green. Picturing the color green in the center of your chest will begin to balance it. Additionally, lighting green candles and having pictures of the green found in nature surrounding you will help your heart feel at ease, bringing balance.
Crystal Therapy for the Heart Chakra:
Rose Quartz, Jade, Green Aventurine, Emerald, Green Tourmaline, Malachite, Rhodochrosite, Chrysoprase
Aromatherapy/Essential Oils for the Heart Chakra:
Angelica, Marjoram, Hyssop, Lavender, Neroli, Melissa, Rose, Chamomile, Ylang-ylang, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Rosemary, and Frankincense
Healing the Heart Chakra with Nature:</