The 7 Chakras in Human Body and their Significance
The term “chakra” means “disc” or “wheel” in Sanskrit and applies to the body’s energy centers. These spinning energy wheels or discs relate to specific nerve cells and key organs. Your chakras must be open, or balanced, in order to function optimally. If one of them becomes blocked, you may suffer emotional or physical symptoms associated with that chakra.
7 Main Chakras
The chakra system pertains to the energy centers that exist in all of us. There are seven main chakras located along your spine, each at a different position.
ROOT CHAKRA
Muladhara, or the root chakra, is positioned at the base of your spine. It gives you basis for life and helps you feel rooted and capable of overcoming obstacles. The root chakra is in charge of your feeling of stability and security.
Color: Red
Location: At the bottom of the tailbone–in the perineum for men and the cervical area for women.
The official name of this chakra, Muladhara, actually translates as ‘root’ and ‘support’.
This chakra’s role is to connect all of your physical, bodily energy with the Earth itself. In other words, this chakra ‘grounds’ you.
Your Root Chakra is also linked to everything you need to survive. This includes the act of breathing, eating, sleeping, and experiencing physical security.
When your 1st chakra is balanced, you’ll feel a deep sense of peace. You’ll feel safe in the knowledge that all of your core needs are met. Because of this, all total body healing starts here.
Unblock The Root Chakra:
[Common Symptoms Of Blockage: feeling generally ungrounded and unsafe. In fear, anxiety, lack, and the ‘I don’t have enough’-ness mindset. Potential digestive upset.]
Meditation: Sit in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed and imagine a glowing red ball of energy in the perineum/cervical area. Then, imagine the energy spinning smoothly in a clockwise motion. Start repeating the affirmation below silently to yourself. Practice this for 10 minutes. You may choose to hold the corresponding chakra stone as you do so.
Healing Affirmation: ‘I am safe and grounded.’
Stones: Hematite, Black Onyx, and Smoky Quartz
Behavioral Changes: Self-soothing, taking time to engage in psychical body experiences like eating hearty meals. Getting enough sleep and walking in nature, for example.
SACRAL CHAKRA
Svadhisthana, or the sacral chakra, is positioned right below your navel. This chakra governs your erotic and creative energies. It is also connected to how you react to your own and other people’s emotions.
Color: Orange
Location: In your pelvic region, a couple of inches below the belly button.
Also known as ‘the place of the self’, the Sacral Chakra is therefore all about your creative identity as a human.
This chakra helps you enjoy your life here on Earth. It’s the energy that motivates you to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Above all, indulging in pleasurable activities like sex, artistic activities, and good food.
When your 2nd chakra is balanced, you’ll truly relish in all the finer things in life. Because of this, you’ll enjoy them without overdoing them.
Unblock The Sacral Chakra:
[Common Symptoms Of Blockage: feeling ‘zapped’ with little to no creativity or sex drive. Potential urinary/sexual/hormonal disturbances.]
Meditation: Sit in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed and imagine a glowing orange ball of energy in the pelvic region. Then, imagine the energy spinning smoothly in a clockwise motion. Start repeating the affirmation below silently to yourself. Practice this for 10 minutes. You may choose to hold the corresponding chakra stone as you do so.
Healing Affirmation: ‘I enjoy the pleasures of life.’
Stones: Orange Calcite and Citrine
Behavioral Changes: Engaging in creative activities such as drawing, painting, playing an instrument, tantric sex, and mindful eating, for example.
SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA
The solar plexus chakra, also known as Manipura, is positioned in your stomach. It is in charge of your self-esteem and confidence and also making you feel in command of your existence.
Color: Yellow
Location: In your stomach–around 2-3 inches above the belly button. The Manipura energy center further translates as ‘the lustrous gem.’ This is because this is the chakra where your self-confidence and personal power sit together in harmony.
Many call the Solar Plexus chakra the ‘Warrior Chakra’ as well. This is because this is by far the most powerful supporting chakra for bravery and boundary-setting.
For instance, you can most probably physically feel its raging energy when you feel angry. You’ll feel it when you need to defend yourself. For better or for worse, it’s your fight and flight response’s, right-hand man!
When balanced, high self-esteem and self-worth are bonus by-products.
Unblock The Solar Plexus Chakra:
[Common Symptoms Of Blockage: feeling frustrated, weak-willed, and insecure. Lacking self-esteem, confidence, and personal power. Because of this, potential stomach tightness and nausea may occur.]
Meditation: Sit in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed and imagine a glowing yellow ball of energy in the stomach. Then, imagine the energy spinning smoothly in a clockwise motion. Start repeating the affirmation below silently to yourself. Practice this for 10 minutes. You may choose to hold the corresponding chakra stone as you do so.
Healing Affirmation: ‘I am strong and I know my worth.’
Stones: Tiger’s Eye and Sunstone
Behavioral Changes: Setting boundaries, practicing saying ‘no’, enhancing self-esteem, exercising, and doing things you’re good at, for example.
HEART CHAKRA
The heart chakra, or Anahata, is positioned in the middle of your chest, near your heart. It should come as no shock that the heart chakra is concerned with our capacity for love and be compassion.
Color: Green
Location: In the chest, in and around the heart space.
Interestingly, the Sanskrit term for the Heart Chakra translates to the state of being ‘unhurt.’
Because of this, when you’re experiencing feelings of love, compassion, and kindness…it’s this energy center you’re connecting to.
In spite of all its translations, this chakra is fundamentally just about love. Love is the most healing frequency of all. Similarly, when your Heart Chakra is balanced, you are easily able to feel love and empathy for yourself and others.
Unblock The Heart Chakra:
[Common Symptoms Of Blockage: hurt, grief, ‘heartbreak’, loneliness, disconnection, lack of compassion. Potential chest pain, heartburn, heaviness, and stooped posture.]
Meditation: Sit in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed and imagine a glowing green ball of energy in the heart space. Then, imagine the energy spinning smoothly in a clockwise motion. Start repeating the affirmation below silently to yourself. Practice this for 10 minutes. You may choose to hold the corresponding chakra stone as you do so.
Healing Affirmation: ‘I am loved and I am loving.’
Stones: Rose Quartz and Aventurine
Behavioral Changes: Practicing self-compassion, gratitude, and random acts of kindness. Engaging in activities such as cuddling, intimacy, gift-giving, and expressing love, for example.
THROAT CHAKRA
The throat chakra, also known as Vishuddha, is situated in the throat. This chakra governs our ability to speak vocally.
Color: Sky Blue
Location: Right in the middle of your throat.
Carrying the meaning of the words ‘very pure’, this chakra helps you to quite literally speak up. Because of this, you’ll do so in a smooth, confident, authentic way.
In addition, this chakra is your official seat of self-expression. The Throat Chakra also gives a voice to your personal preferences, beliefs, and values.
When balanced, you openly and lovingly speak the truth. Moreover, you express yourself in whichever way feels most in alignment at any given time.
In other words, there’s nothing that enlightens and inspires those around you like an open Throat Chakra.
Unblock The Throat Chakra:
[Common Symptoms Of Blockage: Telling lies, little to no self-expression, fear of speaking up. Potential sore throat and stiffness in the neck.]
Meditation: Sit in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed and imagine a glowing sky-blue ball of energy in the neck/throat. Then, imagine the energy spinning smoothly in a clockwise motion. Start repeating the affirmation below silently to yourself. Practice this for 10 minutes. You may choose to hold the corresponding chakra stone as you do so.
Healing Affirmation: ‘I speak my truth and express myself openly.’
Stones: Aquamarine and Sodalite
Behavioral Changes: Telling the truth, finding ways to uniquely express yourself, and speaking your needs aloud, for example.
THIRD EYE CHAKRA
Ajna, or the third eye chakra, is positioned between your eyes. This chakra is responsible for your powerful gut instinct. This is because the third eye is in charge of instinct. It is also related to creativity.
Color: Indigo
Location: Between the eyebrows–extending to your brain’s pineal gland.
The infamous Third Eye Chakra, Ajna, roughly translates as ‘beyond wisdom’.
This is because this mystic energy center opens you up to expanded states of consciousness. They go way beyond the 5 senses and the material world we live in. Extrasensory perception, intuition, and psychic abilities are all born from the third eye. This is because of the brain’s small yet extremely powerful pinecone-shaped gland. It sits just behind Ajna, and goes by the name of the ‘pineal gland‘.
Furthermore, long before brain imaging, many ancient cultures knew about the third eye’s presence. They believed it to be our human connection to the divine
When your Third Eye is balanced, you’ll feel in tune with the physical and spiritual world. You’ll also be able to connect with both your ego and your soul.
Unblock The Third Eye Chakra:
[Common Symptoms Of Blockage: Stubbornness, narrow-mindedness, and denial of the spiritual world. Lack of inner intuitive guidance. Potential headaches.]
Meditation: Sit in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed and imagine a glowing indigo ball of energy between the eyebrows/pineal gland. Then, imagine the energy spinning smoothly in a clockwise motion. Start repeating the affirmation below silently to yourself. Practice this for 10 minutes. You may choose to hold the corresponding chakra stone as you do so.
Healing Affirmation: ‘I know who I am and I trust my intuition.’
Stones: Amethyst, Fluorite, and Lolite
Behavioral Changes: Frequent meditation, mindfulness, and listening to one’s ‘inner voice’, for example. Moreover, a new openness to spirituality may come to occur.
CROWN CHAKRA
The crown chakra, also known as Sahasrara, is positioned on top of your head. Your Sahasrara is your spiritual link to yourself, everyone else, and the cosmos. It also has an impact on your eternal destiny.
Color: Violet/White
Location: At the very top of your head, resting on your crown.
According to most tantric yoga traditions, the final chakra translates as ‘a thousand petals’. This refers to its beautiful, petal-ladened symbology.
Sahasrara is nothing but pure consciousness, connecting you to the Universe. This complete Universe is also known as ‘Om’. And it’s quite literally nothing personal…
When it comes to the concept of The Crown Chakra, it’s something we all have in common. Every human, animal, plant, eco-system, planet, and star has that same lifeforce energy. It’s also worth noting that this chakra exists beyond your unique ego. It is your connection to ‘God’, whatever you deem that to be.
Achieving a balanced crown chakra is the goal of any spiritual practice. Moreover, it’s not easy to do. Once truly balanced–you’ve achieved enlightenment. In other words, you discover the secret of who you really are. Transcending suffering is known in the Buddhist tradition as ‘Nirvana’.
Unblock The Crown Chakra:
[Common Symptoms Of Blockage: Suffering “the human condition.” No connection to spirituality or ‘God’–in whatever way one defines the concept.]
Meditation: Sit in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed and imagine a glowing white/violet ball of energy on the crown of the head. Then, imagine the energy spinning smoothly in a clockwise motion. Start repeating the affirmation below silently to yourself. Practice this for 10 minutes. You may choose to hold the corresponding chakra stone as you do so.
Healing Affirmation: ‘I am the Divine–connected to all life in the Universe.’
Stones: Clear Quartz, Amethyst, and Moonstone
Behavioral Changes: An increased commitment to balancing all of the chakras. Frequent meditation, mindfulness, and an awareness of the oneness of all life. In addition, one may feel drawn to star-gazing, traveling, and lucid dreaming.
How To Balance Chakras For Beginners
To balance your chakras in a quick and easy way, you should start with a simple chakra meditation. Chakra activation involves focussing on each chakra individually and breathing into them with your full concentration. To enhance the experience, many people like to use affirmations and chakra stones.
An Example Of A Chakra Meditation
In order to balance all of the chakras, you can opt for this chakra meditation. In other words, you can think of it as energetic maintenance!
Now you know exactly where the chakras are in the body, as well as their colors, their affirmations, and even their stones, you can now enjoy a full immersion experience.
Start by focussing on each chakra individually for a couple of minutes or so.
While you do this, pay full attention to the chakra’s location and the energy you wish to infuse it with.
Also, feel free to imagine a glowing, colored light spinning clockwise for every chakra. Remember to start with the root chakra and end with the crown chakra.
For each chakra, use the affirmation. Say it with belief, concentration, and passion. The way you meditate will make all the difference. So, go all in, even if it feels like your comfort zone is being pushed to its limits.
Why Use Chakra Stones?
Chakra stones are optional when you meditate. But they may aid your concentration and make the process smoother energetically too. When you change the chakra you’re meditating on, don’t forget to gently place your current chakra stone down and swap it for the new one.