Chraka’s
Meaning
The word "chrakra" means "wheel of light." Chakra’s connect our consciousness to the outside world through the mental, emotional, vital and physical bodies. Humans have seven principal chrakra’s within the body. The first is found at the base of the spine and the seventh just above the head.
History
The oldest known literature which mentions the chakra’s is the Tantra of India which is the written knowledge of an oral tradition spanning back millennia. The Tantra scriptures themselves are 5,000 years old. The chakra’s are mentioned in the Book of Revelation when St John speaks of "the seven gates" and "the seven churches" and by Jesus in the Gospels when he said "when thine eye be single the whole body will be full of light." He was refering to the single or spiritual "eye" or chakra in the forehead, and how when we focus our gaze here we percieve light or pure consciousness.
Function
Chakra’s, as the name indicates, are moving vortexes of energy which transduce cosmic energy into our bodies so we can function in this world. They are sub-atomic, and thus beyond the physical plane. Each chakra has a corresponding gland in the endocrine system, represents an element, colour, and governs the function of various body parts and specific psychological states. I have produced a table which shows each chakra and its corresponding functions.
Healing
Energy is transferred between pure consciousness or soul to the bodies through the chakra’s. If this flow is prevented by a blockage in one or more of the chakra’s disease can manifest. For example, imbalances in the emotional body if not addressed can lead to coronary problems such as heart attacks. Like a hose pipe with a kink in it - the water pressure soon builds up and leads to problems.
Chakra’s spin in a clockwise direction if functioning correctly. The speed at which they spin indicates how well they are working, how much cosmic energy they are bringing into the system. The rate of vibration of our chakra’s corresponds directly to our state of physical, emotional and mental health and our spiritual development. Any outward physical symptom will have had its origin in a blockage or imbalance in the chakra system. To remove these blockages is to achieve balance and a correct flow of energy i.e. eliminate dis-ease. Diagnosis of the chakra’s is a very valuable tool for establishing imbalances, thus they can hopefully be treated before physical symptoms arrive. Blockages in the chakra’s can be treated in many ways - yoga, bio-energetic work, cathartic meditation, sound and colour therapy, active psychology or energy healing.
Spiritual Development
The word enlightened means how much light (cosmic energy ) we have within ( en-light-ened ). The base chakra corresponds with our connection to the earth and physicality. The crown chakra corresponds with our connection to the cosmos and God. When Jesus said "the Kingdom of God is within you" he was referring to the higher chakra’s. Our ability to maintain a high vibration - harmony, love, understanding - is determined by the integrity of the chakra’s.
The Chakra’s and Corresponding Functions
NAME OF CHAKRA / ELEMNET / COLOUR / ENDOCRINE GLAND / BODYPARTS
BASE / EARTH / RED / ANDRENALS / SPINAL COLUM, KIDNEYS
SACRAL / WATER / ORANGE / GONADS / REPRODUCTIVE
SOLAR PLEXUS / FIRE / YELLOW / PANCREAS / STOMACH, LIVER, GALL BLADDER, NERVOUS SYSTEM
HEART / AIR / GREEN / THYMUS / HEART, BLOOD, CIRCULATION
THROAT / ETHER / BLUE / THYROID / BRONCHIAL, VOCAL, LUNGS, ALIMENTARY
BROW / INDIGO / PITUITARY / LOWER BRAIN, LEFT EYE, EARS, NERVOUS SYSTEM
CROWN / VIOLET / PINEAL / UPPER BRAIN,RIGHT EYE WHITE
The Chakra’s and Corresponding Psychological Functions
7 Crown Integration of total personality and spiritual connection to God
6A Brow Capacity to visulise and understand mental concepts, spiritual perception
6B Back Of Head Ability to carry out ideas in a practical way
5B Cervical Sense of self, within society and one’s profession or amongst our peers
4B Dorsal Ego will, or our will towards the outer world and how we view it
3B Lumbar Healing, and our attitude towards our own health
2B Sacral Quantity of sexual and creative energy
1 Base Quantity of physical energy, will to live, connection to earth
5A Throat Taking in and assimilating, taking responsibility
4A Heart Heart feeling of love for others, openess to life
3A Solar Plexus Place in universe, pleasure and expansiveness, spiritual wisdom
2A Pubic Quality of love for opposite sex, ability to give and recieve physical, emotional, mental and spiritual pleasure
Nb. A = Front Of Chakra, B = Back Of Chakra
Nb. Adapted from "Hands Of Light" Barbara Ann Brenann & "Psychosomatic Yoga" J. Mumford