Within every living body, there is a system of centers of consciousness; each is composed of pure energy. These energy centers are called chakras (pronounced shah' kruz), a Sanskrit word that means wheel or vortex. People who are able to sense subtle energies (energy not perceived with the five physical senses) describe the chakras as spinning wheels. Always in motion, these hubs must spin, pulse and vibrate effectively and in harmony with one another in order for a person to experience an overall sense of well being in mind, body and spirit.
While many ancient cultures described their own versions of chakras, the modern system developed from the ancient Indian approach, which was integral to healing the entire physical, emotional, mental and spiritual being. Although the human energy system is comprised of many chakras, the traditional Hindu system identifies seven major centers, which are aligned metaphysically along the sushumna, an energy channel that roughly spans the length of the head and trunk along the spinal column. Chakras connect into the sushumna from both the front and the back. Viewed from the side they look like miniature whirlwinds, with the wide part of the funnel facing outward from the body.
These seven major chakras are numbered from the base of the spine to the top of the head, each with a descriptive name (in order: root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, brow and crown). Each chakra is said to emit, or resonate with, certain light and sound frequencies, thus each has a specific area of the body, color and musical note correlated with it. Each chakra has a number of other associations as well, such as gemstones and essential oils.
Chakras are like pipelines into the field of life-force energy that permeates the universe. Through these pipelines a person draws universal energy into his/her aura, making the universal energy available for use by the physical body. Chakras function to regulate the movement of energy throughout our subtle energy system, being able to open and close the flow, and change the quality of the energy, as needed. Chakras are not physically detectable, however the seven major chakras are metaphysically linked to a variety of systems in the physical body. They serve as a bridge between the energy bodies (emotional, mental and spiritual) and the physical body by impacting the central nervous system, autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system. In the physical body, the endocrine system and the autonomic nervous system function to help balance and maintain the physical parameters needed for optimum health. Chakras also are associated with all aspects of one's consciousness – one's state of awareness, perceptions and relationship to the universe.
In addition to chakras, a person's subtle energy system is also composed of a network of energy channels in the body (called the nadis) and an aura. The aura is a personal energy field or bio-field that surrounds living beings. Auras are comprised of multiple layers of high-frequency energy that extend outward from the physical body. The further the layer is from the body, the higher the energy's frequency. These layers correspond to the higher aspects of one's being (emotional, mental and spiritual). All seven major chakras penetrate each layer of the aura, and energy exchanges and movements occur between and among the chakras and auric layers. Each chakra has a more specific impact on, and involvement with, a specific layer of the aura. This chakra/aura layer relationship follows in order, e.g. the lower chakras are more closely associated with the auric layers closer to the physical body, the higher chakras with the layers further out from the body. All of the components of the subtle energy system – chakras, nadis and aura – are integral to the health and well being of one's entire self (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual).
When each of these swirling, musical, colorful energy centers spins freely, one experiences well- being at all levels. An imbalance in the chakra system, (i.e., blockages in one or more chakras; the flow of too much or too little energy; and the condition of spinning too slowly, too quickly or in the wrong direction) comes from distress in a person's spiritual, mental or emotional being. This will result in an escalating cycle of impeded flow of universal energy, which, if not brought back into balance, will lead to physical and psychological problems and eventually a disease state. Imagine the rotating chakras as tiny cogs, one atop the other, interconnecting. When all seven of the major chakras are spinning in harmony at the same speed, the system runs smoothly, as a single mechanism. If one cog is out of rhythm, the whole system goes out of sync and can eventually become inoperable. Therefore, there is a great emphasis on establishing and maintaining a balanced, unblocked chakra system.
Most integrative modalities that work with vibrational energy incorporate methods that help balance and clear chakras. For example, Reiki practitioners use spiritual life-force energy. Therapeutic Touch and Healing Touch practitioners use both the client's and the practitioner's energy to bring chakra energy into balance. Other modalities that use vibrational energy to remove chakra blockages include color therapy, toning and other sound therapy, tuning fork therapy, aromatherapy and crystal work. All of these modalities use a form of vibrational energy to help guide the chakra to return to its own natural vibrational resonance. It is like applying a metaphysical energetic impulse that “shocks” the chakra back to its original energetic signature, similar to the way a defibrillator “shocks” the physical heart back to its normal rhythm of muscular contractions.
Since a person's thoughts are energy, chakra work may include mind-body techniques and meditation as well. Using the powerful manifestation energy of the mind through personal meditation or guided imagery with a practitioner, one may imagine the opening of the chakras to move energy through his/her subtle energy system. The meditative disciplines of yoga, tai chi and qi gong often focus on freeing and balancing the flow of energy within and among the chakras.
An understanding of how energy moves through the chakras for spiritual growth is integral o the Indian tradition of connecting chakras and physical health. Either personally or with support of energy practitioners and spiritual teachers, a person must work on all of the issues related to each of the chakras. The goal of the avatar is to be able to achieve clear and open chakras through which the powerful kundalini energy (energy of the spirit) may move upward through each successive chakra. Once the kundalini energy is able to move freely from root to crown, the person is said to have achieved enlightenment, the appreciation of the higher self.
Chakras play a major role in physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Caring for these spinning wheels of light and sound helps bring well being and harmony into a person's life.
Carol J. Spears is a holistic practitioner and wildlife biologist. She is a Reiki Master and Teacher, a Certified Music Practitioner of the harp, meditation instructor and birth doula. She does her holistic work out of three offices, including the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Center for Integrative Medicine facility in Broadview Heights. For more information, visit her website, www.heartinhands.com. She can be contacted by calling (440) 639-9958 or e-mailing cjs@heartinhands.com.
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