Chakra

The word Chakra is derived from the Sanskrit, a historic Indo-Aryan language, which when translated denotes wheel, disc or circle. The concept of Chakra is often refereed to as a wheel-like whirling mass, or force, like a whirlpool of energy, that exists and becomes apparent in both the etheric and physical aspects of man. Traditional teachings indicate the Chakras as force centres in the form of a spiral, or swirl of energy permeating from specific points on the physical body, the increasing movement is often referred to as a fan-like in action. Gentle masses of matter at the focal points, are receptive and transmit energies from the seven-chakra centres of energy, which are also known as wheels of light, located within the physical body. Chakras are described as aligned in an ascending column, from the base of the spine, to the top of the head.

In some modern new age practices, the individual chakras are associated with a certain colour. Likewise, chakras are associated with multiple physiological meanings and aspect of consciousness, a classical feature with other distinctive characteristics. The chakras are often visualised as a lotus, with a different number of petals, each relating to an individual chakra. The chakras are consideration to encourage the physical body, associated with interactions of a physical, emotional, psychological or of a psychological nature. The function of the chakras is to spin and draw upon the ‘Universal Life Force Energy’ thus, keeping the spiritual, psychosomatic, mental, emotional and physical health of the individual body to gain its equilibrium through a state of balance.

Within the religion of Hinduism, and now in modern times, followers of holistic health, or alternative beliefs, see the chakras as an interactive force. The chakras interactive force is linked with the body’s endocrine glands and lymphatic system, by feeding in good positive natural energies and disposing of the unwanted biological ones.

Taking a simplistic approach, one could deem there are seven chakras, which are thought to be the focal points for the distribution, conveying subtle and gentle energies, from within the body. There exists a whole raft of literature on the subject, which will take you beyond the traditional eastern practices. The concepts of the chakras have steadily become more accepted and popular through the world. A tremendous amount of information is derived from the Upanishad, which are a collection of Hindu scriptures and philosophical texts, which constitute the core teachings that are concerned with self-enlightenment. The teachings have been handed down orally for well over a thousand years between 900 to 1200 years before Christ.

Modern interpretations differ somewhat, but in general the chakras are located in the spinal column. The chakra is an expression of the life force energy operating along the spine and located at major points, that branch through the human nervous system. The system begins at the base of the spinal column, moving upwards through wheels of light, to the top of the cranium. The top or seventh, is sighted beyond the physical region and often referred and correlates to the basic forms of consciousness.

The study of chakras is innermost to many different therapies and spiritual disciplines. Sensitive energise are conveyed through practices such as aromatherapy, spiritual healing, reiki, colour and light, sound therapy, mantras and crystal therapy. Shiatsu, Tai Chi and Acupuncture focus on the balancing of energetic meridians, which are an integral part of the chakras system according to traditional eastern theories. Therefore, the energy relating to each of the seven spectrum colours of violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red vibrate with the energy of each of the seven main chakras, or energy centres of the body. Consequently, a balance of all these energies achieves good health. The equilibrium of the energy, in each of the chakras, is very important for the individuals’ health. Colour therapy can help to re-stabilities and effect to stimulate these energies, by applying the appropriate colour to the body and therefore re-balance the chakras.

Mantras, Sound and Vibrations

Mantras can be interpreted as to be an effective vibration, or sound which may also include verbal or sound repetition, in the form of chanting, or internal mental repetition. In these forms, emphasise is placed upon correct pronunciation with a result of early development of phonetics in Indian. Mantras can often be used in Eastern spiritual traditions in a process to divert the mind, away from basic human desires, or the desire to gain material possessions, by focussing the mind on spiritual things, thus gaining divine consciousness.

An Introduction into the Chakra’s

I have listed below a brief explanation of the Chakra’s. There are no definitive explanations and the subject is open to your own interpretation. Therefore, this is purely a guideline, which may give some insight into this fascinating subject. I hope it helps you to realise your own views and interpretation, thus helping you in your own spiritual unfoldment.

Further insight into the Chakra’s is given on one of my Spiritual Training Modules that I undertake within my spiritual work. I hope this brief insight helps you, if you require anymore details please contact through my e-mail on the contact page of the website.

Blessing and Light

The Seven Primary Chakras

* Sahasrara - The Crown Chakra

Colour: Violet
Associated Sense: Transcendental, Attunement and Spiritual Awareness
Crystals: Generally clear violet
Examples: Diamond amethyst and transparent quartz

* Ajna - Brow Chakra

Colour: Indigo or Purple
Associated Sense: High Spiritual Achievement and Clear Thought
Crystals: Dark blue, purple or lilac
Examples: Amethyst, sodalite, lapis, and flurite

* Vishuddha - Throat Chakra

Colour: Blue
Associated Sense: Spiritual Inspiration
Crystals: Generally blue
Examples: Sapphire, aquamarine, celestite, sodalite, and turquoise

* Anahata - The Heart Chakra

Colour: Green
Associated Sense: Balance and or Spiritual Healing
Crystals: Jade, tourmaline, aventurine, or lilac
Examples: Amethyst, sodalite, lapis, and flurite

* Manipura - The Solar Plexus Chakra

Colour: Yellow
Associated Sense: Spiritual Intellect
Crystals: Generally yellow or gold
Examples: Yellow amber, sunstone, malachite or lemon citrine

* Swadhisthana - Sacred Chakra

Colour: Orange
Associated Sense: Spiritual Understanding
Crystals: Generally Orange amber, amber or gold
Examples: Citrine, Golden Topaz, moonshine or carnelian

* Muladhara – The Base Chakra

Colour: Red
Associated Sense: Energy
Crystals: Mauve, red or brown
Examples: Agate, tiger’s eye, hematite, sardonyx or bloodstone

Chakras and Chinese Medicine

With traditional Chinese medicine and the Chakras, as there is also a reliance of a similar energy system model, except that it involves the circulation qi energy. Chinese medicines dating back many years also rely on a simple energy system that flows in the human body, involving circulation of the flow of qi energy.

In the circuit of qi, it is sometimes known as the light and energy coming down the torso channel. The energy enters focal points and when it returns to the heart, it then cycles down and re-ascend back to the head. In the macrocosmic orbit of qi energy is also guided through the main channels of the limbs. The concept of meridians (channels) and ki are seemingly meaningful to that of the chakras. It has been suggested that Chinese medicine was inspired but the Indian concepts. The Chinese model on the other hand, includes twelve meridians and at least three hundred and sixty five acupuncture points, distributed on various organs, instead of the seven chakras located along the spinal column.

The Chakras and Spectrum of Light

The relatively new development in Western practices dating back to the 1940s is to associate each one of the seven chakras to a given colour and a corresponding crystal. For example, the chakra in the forehead is associated with the colour violet or purple, so to cure a headache you would apply a violet or purple stone to the forehead. This concept has proven highly popular and has been integrated by all but a few practitioners.

Mercier initiated the relation of colour energy to the science of the light spectrum:

"As humans, we exist within the 49th Octave of Vibration of the electromagnetic light spectrum. Below this range are barely visible radiant heat, then invisible infrared, television and radio waves, sound and brain waves above it is barely visible ultraviolet, then the invisible frequencies of chemicals and perfumes, followed by x-rays, gamma rays, radium rays and unknown cosmic rays.

Understanding existence and physical form as an interpretation of light energy through the physical eyes will open up greater potential to explore the energetic boundaries of colour, form and light that are perceived as immediate reality. Indian Yogic teachings assign to the seven major chakras specific qualities, such as colour of influence (from the 7 rays of spectrum light), elements (such as earth, air, water and ether), body sense (such as touch, taste, and smell), and relation to an endocrine gland”.

Each of the colours within the spectrum, have their own individual properties, with its own wavelength and frequency. It is said by some that white is not a colour, but it is a scientific fact that all of the colours are a refraction, that is inclusive of all of the colours. Although white could be said to be a colour, it is generally not included in the scientific spectrum, as it is in fact made up of all the colours of the spectrum, but it is often referred to being a colour.

Sir Isaac Newton proved that white light is indeed made up of colours, by passing natural sunlight through a glass prism, which in result projected a rainbow of colours onto a surface. Newton then proceeded to use a second glass prism and combined the light from the first prism, splitting the suns rays into individual colours to produce white light once again. Thus proving white light does indeed contain colour.

Chakras and Colour Therapy

My Spiritual Teacher and Mentor Jack Corbett conducted Colour Healing from the age of 14. Jack passed from this life into the Golden Light at the age of 81 back in 1991. During my nine years under his spiritual guidance, colour and its qualities was often spoken about in great detail. The conclusion is that Colour Healing and Colour Therapy has been with us since the dawn of time, and seems now to have grown in its usage and appreciation, long may it continue.

Stephen

Even in these modern times of anatomical knowledge, and histological science, there are those who doubt, and do not accept the existence of either chakras, or meridians. What's more, practitioners of spiritual healing, magnetic healers and those who provide crystal therapy, are still at pains to provide a theory as to how inert crystals influence the bodily processes of a patient. Some sceptics still claim that through clinical trials of acupuncture and complimentary therapies, there is an inability to detect such energy fields. Again, there are those who suggest that the chakras; spiritual healing and acupuncture are based on no more that mild hypnosis and the placebo effect.

Complementary therapy dates back many thousands of years, to the ancient cultures of Egypt, China and India. Colour, is the visual perception property corresponding in all human beings to the spectrum within the band of light. Colour stemming from the spectrum, in effect is the distribution of light energy versus wavelength, which interacts in the eye through spectral sensitivities of the light receptors. The various categories and physical requirements of colour are also associated with objects, textures, materials and light sources based on their physical properties such as light absorption, reflection, or emission spectra. Therefore, colour is simply light of varying wavelengths, and each colour has its own particular wavelength and energy. Characteristically, the only features of the composition of light that are detectable by humans (wavelength spectrum from 380 nm to 740 nm, approximately) are included, thereby objectively relating the phenomenon of colour to its physical specification.

Since the perception of colour stems from the varying sensitivity of different types of cone cells photoreceptors cells in the retina to different parts of the spectrum, colours may be defined and quantified by the degree to which they stimulate these cells. These physical or physiological quantifications of colour, however, do not fully explain the relationship between physical stimuli and their subjective correlation or perception.

Stephen