More About Comprehensive Chakra Therapy
The word “chakra” means “wheel." The concept is rooted in ancient Hindu mysticism, and has been adapted in yoga and modern healing modalities. The chakras are energy centers in the human body aligned with the body’s central core that take energy into the body, then express it outward to the world. Although chakras are not physical, it is believed that they correspond to the main nerve ganglia flowing out of the spinal column into the subtle body of the individual. Each chakra has a specific location on the body, with a strong relationship to physical and emotional well-being. The chakras are related to states of consciousness, with the lower chakras representing practical, day-to-day matters, and the upper chakras relating more to mental and spiritual matters.
According to Dr. Anodea Judith, a leading chakra expert and author, “Just as the spine is the central organizing element of the bones and muscles, the chakra system is the central organizing principle of the soul. Arranged vertically along the core of the body, the chakras describe the sacred architecture of the soul—the yoke that joins together heaven and earth, mind and body, inner and outer. In this way, the chakra system is the means whereby your earthly being connects to its divine source.”
Dr. Anodea Judith is one of the foremost authorities on the chakra system. Click here to visit her website.
The Chakras
Chakra 1 – The Root Chakra is located at the base of the spine and the perineum. It is related to physicality, family, right livelihood, financial stability, and can be damaged by any threat to survival including birth trauma, viiolence, illness and surgery. Chakra 2 – The Sacral Chakra is located on the lower abdomen below the navel, and above the pubic bone. It is related to emotional stability, sexuality, pleasure and desire or need. It can be damaged by sexual, emotional or physical abuse, moral severity or deprivation of physical contact and movement. Chakra 3 – The Will Center is located at the solar plexus, under the ribs. It is related to right use of will, power, energy/metabolism and ego strength. It can be damaged by an authoritarian environment, shaming, fear of punishment, or responsibilities that are not age-appropriate (the parentified child). Chakra 4 – The Heart Chakra is located in the center of the chest between the breasts. It is related to loving relationships with others, compassion, and non-sexual intimacy It can be damaged by rejection, abandonment, loss, betrayal, or a cold childhood environment lacking in love. Chakra 5 – The Throat Chakra is located at the throat, and is related to communication (listening, speaking), creativity, and symbolic thinking. It can be damaged by verbal abuse, criticism, lies, mixed messages or by being ignored. Chakra 6 – The Third Eye Chakra is located in the center of the forehead, and is related to imagination, intuition visualization, and dreams. It can be damaged by invalidation of intuition, dreams or psychic experiences, or by an environment in which what the child sees doesn’t match what he or she is being told. Chakra 7 – The Crown Chakra is located on the top of the head. It is our connection to the Divine, as well as information processing, belief systems and intelligence. It can be damaged by lack of education, invalidation of beliefs, lies, secrets, and information being withheld.