LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE CHAKRAS
The word “chakra” comes from the Sanskrit word meaning wheel or circle and refers to energy centers located inside and around the physical body. They are vortices of energy; globes of light that radiate out for several feet. Every living sentient being, be they plant, animal or human, has chakras within, and an aura outside of the physical body. They are part of our living Life Force and, as such, are focal points for cosmic, galactic, earth, crystal and spiritual energy to come into the body. The operate like data processors, retrieving information from the Universe, and processing and distributing that data throughout the physical and energy bodies.
Chakras feed into the glandular system of the body, and then into the physical organs and areas throughout the body. Through the glandular system, chakras process energy that enables the physical body and consciousness to maintain form and life force. Without this complex energy system, we would not exist.
Energy is the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity. Energy can be found in everything and takes on many different forms. Subtle energy refers to the life force that is undetectable with most physical instruments. In other words, life force is that energy not largely measurable on the physical level. The body’s subtle energy is known as chi, qi, xi, or prana. It is a vital force that can never be destroyed; but it can be transformed.
When you are aware of the flow of energy through your chakra system, both internally and externally, you are empowered with tools to defend yourself, assert yourself, and be the best possible version of yourself. Tuning into your subtle energy is both grounding and centering. It strengthens your ability to manifest what you want in this life and feel more in control. This is the knowledge you will gain from this course and, in turn, share with your groups as they embark on a journey through each of their chakras.
Why is it Important to Balance and Clear Chakras?
You may be familiar with the seven main chakras that exist along the spinal column from our coccyx to our crown. However, there are many other chakras located inside your body, above your head and below your torso. The chakras communicate with each other through 72,000 energy channels, called nadis, along which vital energy moves. Since 100 B.C., acupuncturists have worked with nadis to release disruptions to the flow of subtle energy. If an individual’s chakras aren’t functioning properly, the entire energy body is thrown out of sync and energy flow is disrupted. Working to clear and balance one’s chakras is vital to good health and well-being.
Five Main External Chakras
In addition to the seven primary chakras located in the body, there are five main external chakras located at different points around the body. These chakras may also be referred as the five transpersonal chakras. Our connection to earth The seven primary or in-body chakras, plus the five transpersonal chakras, connects us to the entire universe.
The five transpersonal chakras are as described below.
The Earth Star chakra is located 6” below the feet and makes up part of the etheric body. It connects directly to the core of the earth and to Gaia. This chakra deals with your awareness of nature. It plays a powerful role in our physical well-being.
The Soul Star chakra (Seat of the Soul) is located approximately 6” above the head. This chakra allows access to one’s soul’s code or Higher Purpose. This is your soul’s blueprint which is accessible through the Akashic Records.
The Causal chakra (Universal) is located 3-4” behind the center back of the head. This chakra is said to facilitate exploration of Spirit and Higher Wisdom.
The Galactic chakra is located 2-15’ above the head. It is a channel for prophecy. The Galactic chakra governs your ability to transcend space and time, and to access the Akashic Records.
The Stellar chakra (Divine or Universal) is located 12” above the head. It is the gateway to the stars and to higher vibration. It holds your monad energy and contains the sum of all your experiences across all existences (12th dimensional).
These five chakras have lain dormant for the most part. They are now being activated and awakened by those who choose a spiritual path of growth. These are individuals who actively seek an expansion of awareness and a return to a heart-based consciousness. If we examine humanity over the last few years, many individuals are awakening to their spiritual potential and are moving forward to find the truth behind who they really are through spiritual studies, mindfulness, consciousness, and a quest for Universal knowledge.
In this course, we will focus on the seven chakras that Western spirituality has adopted from Eastern spirituality and Chinese medicine. It’s a wonderful time to choose this path and to support others on their journey. Know that you and this work are supported by forces both seen and unseen --- human and spiritual. When you are in need of information and support, all you need do is ask. When the student is ready, the teacher appears.
Why Balance the Chakras?
Each chakra has a Sanskrit name and vibrates at a different light frequency that is associated with a specific color.
Root / Muladhara (Root, Support) – Red
Sacral / Svadisthana (Sweetness, Seat of Self) – Orange
Solar Plexus / Manipura (Lustrous Gem) – Yellow
Heart / Anahata (unstuck) – Green, Pink, Ice Blue
Throat / Vishuddah (Purification) – Indigo
Third Eye or Brow / Ajna (Unlimited Power) – Purple
Crown / Sahasrara (Thousandfold) – Violet, White
When chakras are in balance, they work in unison and create a bright white light that connects us to and activates the Merkabah field. In perfect balance, our energy field vibrates the highest frequency of crystal white light and nothing harmful or disruptive is allowed to enter. In this state we glow with light and disease cannot manifest into our physical body, as it is burned off if it tries to penetrate the energy field while in this state.
Many things impact our energy field, yet are undetected in the physical body. For example, our Solar Plexus chakra becomes engorged when we feel disempowered. This enlargement prevents healing light from entering that area of the body.
In addition to color associations, each chakra governs a specific part of the body’s glandular system, which feeds into the body’s physical organs.
Root – reproductive glands
Sacral – Lyden or Leydig gland
Solar Plexus – adrenal glands
Heart – thymus gland
Throat – thyroid gland
Third Eye – pituitary gland
Crown – pineal gland
Disease and sickness occur when the glandular system gets overwhelmed. Therefore, when we clear and balance the chakras, we are helping to prevent disease manifesting in the body.
A History of the Chakras
The earliest mention of chakras appears in the Vedas, the oldest written tradition found in India (2500 B.C. to 500 B.C.). However, it is known that they were part of an even older oral tradition brought to India by invading Indo-European tribes.
Following on from the Vedas were the Upanishads, which are Hindu wisdom teachings from circa 600 B.C., and later in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (circa 200 B.C.). Both chakras and Kundalini became an integral part of the broad philosophy known as Tantra. Chakras and Kundalini are also a core teaching of the philosophy and practice of yoga.
Our Western understanding of chakras is formed in part from a translation of some of the Tantric texts. In 1919 author, Arthur Avalon, published his book entitled The Serpent Power. In it he describes seven major ‘master’ chakras, which connect our physical existence to higher, non-physical realms.
Knowledge of the chakras is central to an understanding of many spiritual concepts and healing modalities. The quest for knowledge in this area is a course of study in itself and cannot be covered in any brief description.
Our first written record of energy centers in the body is found in the Indian Vedas. They were referred to as chakravartin and specific symbols were designated for each. In the Hindu Vedic tradition, the continuous movement of subtle energy through the chakras is referred to as Shakti. Various esoteric traditions in Hinduism mention numbers and arrangements of chakras. The chakra methodology is extensively developed in the goddess tradition of Hinduism called Shaktism. Specific yoga exercises and chakra work draws from the wisdom of Shaktism.
How did it get to the Western world?
As previously mentioned, in 1919 Arthur Avalon (born Sir John Woodroffe) published a book entitled The Serpent Power. In this book, Avalon introduced the Shakta theory of seven main chakras. Around that same time, there was a rediscovery of Reiki in Japan by Dr. Mikao Usui. This is when the so-called New Age movement and heightened interest in all things esoteric became popularized. In the western world, The New Age movement sparked various ways to work with these energy centers in spiritual modalities. Reiki is perhaps the most well-known and used of the energy and spiritual modalities in the West.